OK, so I've forgotten too much math...

[Netpackrat]

The words you are looking for are linear programming. Back when I was in business school, there used to be an add-on function for Excel called "Excel Solver" that could be used to solve LP problems without a lot of math required on the part of the user.

[Weetabix]

The words you are looking for are linear programming. Back when I was in business school, there used to be an add-on function for Excel called "Excel Solver" that could be used to solve LP problems without a lot of math required on the part of the user.

So the real answer is to find a local university that has graduate students doing this kind of math. Find the professor and ask him to assign it as a problem to his graduate students.

I had several classes in school where we were solving local problems that had been solved previously by consulting firms. The real-life aspect of it made it more memorable and more engaging.

Find a university and have them solve it for you for free.

[Aesop]

If you do that, fair is fair.
At least write some kid a decent reference letter.

I dated an architect once who was still incredibly pissed off 15 years later at seeing her student project plans adopted por nada as the floor plan of a small local chain of mid-level restaurants from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

[Weetabix]

If you do that, fair is fair.
At least write some kid a decent reference letter.

Never though about that. Mine were already finished projects. I thought the real-life aspect was cool. But you're right - if you use it going forward, help the kid out.

[Aesop]

I'm only a little touchy in those cases because my 2 years of student nursing in any other context is what the Thirteenth Amendment refers to as "indentured servitude".

[Lokidude]

If you do that, fair is fair.
At least write some kid a decent reference letter.

Never though about that. Mine were already finished projects. I thought the real-life aspect was cool. But you're right - if you use it going forward, help the kid out.

Do it right, he might find himself a decent intern/employee out of the deal.

[Aglifter]

Guys, you are making this too serious - I was just posting it as a "puzzler". I have to live near the plant, and there are only a couple places I'm willing to live that will work.

[slowpoke]

The words you are looking for are linear programming. Back when I was in business school, there used to be an add-on function for Excel called "Excel Solver" that could be used to solve LP problems without a lot of math required on the part of the user.

What he's really interested in is operations research
Chris posted the better answer though.
For my two cents, you might try east of Memphis and piggyback off of fedex.

[Weetabix]

Guys, you are making this too serious - I was just posting it as a "puzzler".

You do realize what crowd you're addressing, right.

[Netpackrat]

The words you are looking for are linear programming. Back when I was in business school, there used to be an add-on function for Excel called "Excel Solver" that could be used to solve LP problems without a lot of math required on the part of the user.

What he's really interested in is operations research.

LP is one of the major tools used in operations research to do the sort of optimizations that Aglifter is interested in.