Determination of Starting Basic Feasible Solution

In transportation models, determining an initial Basic Feasible Solution (BFS) is crucial for minimizing shipping costs. This process involves finding a viable starting point before iteratively optimizing the solution. There are three primary methods to identify a starting BFS: the Northwest Corner Rule, the Least Cost Method, and the Vogel’s Approximation Method. Each method offers a systematic approach to allocate resources across various routes, ensuring that transportation costs are minimized efficiently as the model progresses towards the optimal solution.