In: Operations Management
Three fertilizers factories X, Y and Z located at different places of the country produce 6,4 and 5 lakh tones of urea respectively. Under the directive of the central government, they are to be distributed to 3 States A, B and C as 5, 3 and 7 lakh respectively. The transportation cost per tones in rupees is given below:
| FACTORIES | State A | State B | State C |
| X | 11 | 17 | 16 |
| Y | 15 | 12 | 14 |
| Z | 20 | 12 | 15 |
Find out suitable transportation pattern at minimum cost by North West Corner method and Least Cost method.
Answer a) Solution Using North-West Corner Rule:
Step 1: First, prepare the following table:

Step 2:
The rim
values for X=6
and A=5
are compared.
The smaller of the two i.e. min(6,5)
= 5
is assigned to X A
This meets the complete demand
of A
and leaves 6 - 5 = 1 units with
X

Step 3: The rim values for
X=1 and B=3
are compared.
The smaller of the two i.e. min(1,3)
= 1
is assigned to X B
This exhausts the capacity of
X and leaves 3 - 1 = 2 units with
B

Step 4:
The rim
values for Y=4
and B=2
are compared.
The smaller of the two i.e. min(4,2)
= 2
is assigned to Y B
This meets the complete demand
of B
and leaves 4 - 2 = 2 units with
Y

Step 5:
The rim
values for Y=2
and C=7
are compared.
The smaller of the two i.e. min(2,7)
= 2
is assigned to Y C
This exhausts the capacity of
Y and leaves 7 - 2 = 5 units with
C

Step 6:
The rim
values for Z=5
and C=5
are compared.
The smaller of the two i.e. min(5,5)
= 5
is assigned to Z C

The above table shows the feasible solution. Hence, we get the minimum total cost as mentioned below:

(Note: Cost In Lakhs = Urea (Lakh Tonnes) X Cost Per Tones)
Answer b) Solution Using Least Cost Rule:
Step 1: First, prepare the following table:

Step 2: Pick the cell with the least cost and allocate as many units as possible without exceeding the demand or supply:
The
smallest transportation cost is 11 in cell XA
The allocation of this cell is
min(6,5) = 5.
This satisfies the entire demand
of A
and leaves 6 - 5 = 1 units with
X

Step 2:
The
smallest transportation cost is 12 in cell YB
The allocation of this cell is
min(4,3) = 3.
This satisfies the entire demand
of B
and leaves 4 - 3 = 1 units with
Y

Step 3:
The
smallest transportation cost is 14 in cell YC
The allocation of this cell is
min(1,7) = 1.
This exhausts the capacity of
Y and leaves 7 - 1 = 6 units with
C

Step 4:
The
smallest transportation cost is 15 in cell ZC
The allocation of this cell is
min(5,6) = 5.
This exhausts the capacity of
Z and leaves 6 - 5 = 1 units with
C

Step 5:
The
smallest transportation cost is 16 in cell XC
The allocation to this cell is
min(1,1) = 1.
The above table shows the feasible solution. Hence, we get the minimum total cost as mentioned below:

(Note: Cost In Lakhs = Urea (Lakh Tonnes) X Cost Per Tones)