1. Using Excel for Optimization by Michael Nichols

2. Initial Setup The Analysis ToolPack on the Microsoft Office CD includes the Solver. Select the Tools menu and choose “Add Ins”. Check the box corresponding to the Analysis ToolPack.

3. Transportation Example

4. Problem Setup Each Garage has a cost associated with sending to each Location. Each Location has a minimum number of needed buses.

5. Problem Setup (cont.) Each Garage has the total number of buses being sent as a constraint. Each location has the total number of buses allocated, also as a constraint. This will be the area that can be modified by the solver to find the solution.

6. Problem Setup (cont.) Each Time entry is a sum of the Buses sent multiplied by the cost to send to each location. Ex: “=(LocA*Garage1)+(LocA*Garage2)+(LocA*Garage3)” Total is a sum of the times.

7. Solver Settings Select “Solver” from the Tools menu. In this section, you will be able to enter your constraints as well as select the method used to find your solution.

8. Problem solution