Linear Optimization Model

Klein Industries manufactures three types of portable air compressors: small, medium, and large, which have unit profits of $20.50, $34.00, and $42.00, respectively. The projected monthly sales are:

                  Small  Medium  Large

 Minimum  14,000   6,200  2,600

 Maximum  21,000  12,500  4,200

 The production process consists of three primary activities: bending and forming, welding, and painting. The amount of time in minutes needed to process each product in each department is shown below:

                                 Small  Medium  Large  Available Time 

Bending/forming            0.4       0.7       0.8       23,400

Welding                       0.6       1.0       1.2       23,400

Painting                       1.4       2.6       3.1       46,800

How many of each type of air compressor should the company produce to maximize profit?

 a.  Formulate and solve a linear optimization model using the auxiliary variable cells method and write a short memo to the production manager explaining the sensitivity information.

 b.  Solve the model without the auxiliary variables and explain the relationship between the reduced costs and the shadow prices found in part a.