Abstract:
This study is an extension of the research initiated by Somani (2015), to improve
the Initial Basic Feasible Solution (IBFS) of a transportation problem (TP). The
results of this new IBFS technique were compared to the Somani Approximation
Method (SAM) and the well-known Vogel’s Approximation Method (VAM),
using two literature values adopted in the study.
From the analysis of the basic feasible solutions from the three methods in relation
to the first literature data: the IBFS values of the given problem obtained
from SAM, VAM and the new IBFS method were 555, 303 and 267 respectively.
The corresponding results from the Modified Distribution (MODI) method on
the IBFS of SAM, VAM and the new IBFS method also yielded an optimal solution
value of 267. The total iterations involved in computing IBFS through to
the optimal solution for SAM, VAM and the new IBFS method were 8, 6 and 4
respectively.
In the second literature data, the IBFS values of the given transportation problem
obtained from SAM, VAM and the new IBFS method were also 640, 625 and
625 respectively. Applying the MODI method on the IBFS of SAM, VAM and
the new IBFS method provided an optimal solution value of 625. The total
iterations involved in computing IBFS through to the optimal solution for SAM,
VAM and the new IBFS method were 6, 4 and 4 respectively.
Comparatively, the results from the study, aside from optimal solution obtained
from fewer iterations, showed that the new IBFS Technique produces an IBFS
value that is better than the one produced by either the SAM or the VAM. It is
recommended that the new IBFS technique will be adopted by companies and
businesses to solve their transportation problems.
