MODIFIED STEPPING‐STONE METHOD AS A TEACHING AID FOR CAPACITATED TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS
改进了标准踏脚石法，用于解决容量受限运输问题，提供一种比网络法或单纯形法更简单易懂的教学工具，适合入门课程使用。
ABSTRACT This paper extends the standard stepping‐stone method to the case of capacitated transportation problems. The purpose is to offer an alternative to network‐oriented or simplex‐based methods (such as the out‐of‐kilter and upper‐bounding techniques) often used in handling the capacitated transportation problem but generally beyond the scope of introductory decision sciences courses. The proposed procedure is based on the simple stepping‐stone method and requires only a few modifications in the cost/assignment matrix and some alterations in the pivoting rules. As such, it is much easier to understand and apply than the above‐mentioned solution algorithms. It therefore can serve as an effective tool for teaching capacitated transportation problems. Two numerical examples illustrate applications of the proposed method, procedures for sensitivity analysis, and comparisons with linear programming.