Question

What real-world process could Excel's solver be used to improve? Describe the data inputs and optimization you would seek. You might be maximizing the number of fish caught, minimizing food leftovers, etc.

Example Post
It takes way too long to go through airport security. Solver could be used to optimize airport security processes. Inputs would be the time it takes people to take off shoes, unpack luggage, go through the scanner, etc. Other inputs would be the number of guards and metal detectors. We would want to minimize the total time to pass through screening.

Example Reply
I dread airport security. I wish TSA would do this today.

Answer 1

Excel solver can be used in a warehouse where goods are shipped from 2 warehouses to 4 customers. Problem being that each of the two warehouse has limited supply and each customer has a certain demand. Excel solver here can be used to compute what would be the minimum shipping cost with both being able to meet the demands of each customer without exceeding the quantity available at each warehouse. It would be sort of a transportation matrix problem which can be solved in excel's solver.

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