Manufacturer : User Solutions, Inc
Before the computer age, distribution centers were located using the following procedure: First, place a map of the region to be served on a table top. Drill holes in the table top at the locations of customers. Run a string through each hole and attach a bag of fishing weights to the end of the string (below the table). The number of fishing weights placed in each bag corresponds to the volume shipped to that customer. Additional weights can be added to account for the costs of shipping to different locations. Tie the strings together so that the knot is free to move on the table top. The point at which the knot comes to rest is known as the center of gravity. This location minimizes the sum of the weighted straight-line distances from each customer location to the distribution center. Of course, the center of gravity may rest at an infeasible location, but the procedure does give a starting point for determining a good location for the distribution center.
The CENTER model in Figures 1 and 2 gives a good approximation to the solution found with the physical procedure. Certainly the model requires less time and effort than the physical procedure.
CENTER was recently used by Villone Dairies to locate a milk plant to serve five Northeast Texas cities. The first step in applying the model is to lay out a grid on a map and mark the coordinates of the customers. The origin of the grid is at zero. Customer locations are indicated by X, Y coordinates indicating the number of miles from the zero point. The second step is to enter the names of customers in column B, the volume to be shipped from the plant in column C, and transportation rates in column D. If you don't have data on transportation rates, you can still use the model if you are willing to assume that rates are approximately equal to each customer location. Simply enter 1.00 as the rate to each location, as Villone did. Finally, enter the X,Y coordinates in columns E and F.
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