Does anyone have an Excel template that performs optimization to solve the
"Bin Packing Problem". In the simplest example assume I produce orange juice
and each day of the week I will have a different total volume. Once I know
the volume i have I want to prepare 3 different size containers for shipping
the juice, making the most efficient use of the containers with the least air
space left over. I need to know how many of each size container to prepare in
advance. Looking for something a bit more optimal than best-fit or
decreasing-fit algorithms.

Gary -

Your problem seems much like the classical "cutting stock" linear
programming problem. An example that you might be able to modify is
available on the Solver web site from the Production and Manufacturing
Examples page at http://www.solver.com/procenter.htm, specifically,
http://www.solver.com/procutstock.htm

- Mike
http://www.MikeMiddleton.com


"Gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:B3C77573-652E-4931-8D41-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Does anyone have an Excel template that performs optimization to solve the
> "Bin Packing Problem". In the simplest example assume I produce orange
> juice
> and each day of the week I will have a different total volume. Once I know
> the volume i have I want to prepare 3 different size containers for
> shipping
> the juice, making the most efficient use of the containers with the least
> air
> space left over. I need to know how many of each size container to prepare
> in
> advance. Looking for something a bit more optimal than best-fit or
> decreasing-fit algorithms.