Overview

The Icepack Excel Add-in provides users with a quick and easy way to explore how the Icepack solvers work, as well as a simple way to solve routing and network sourcing problems directly within an Excel spreadsheet. A simple example of how each model can be used is provided allowing you to get up and running as quickly as possible.

There are two main classes of problem that can be explored, namely Vehicle Routing problems and Network Sourcing models.

Vehicle routing models are comprised of simple TSP problems (single vehicle no capacity), CVRP problems which take into account vehicle capacities and job sizes and, finally, an advanced interface to the Icepack Vehicle Router that allows for more constraints to be added to the problem. While the TSP and CVRP models are certainly useful in their own right for problems with few constraints or to gain insight into the lower bound costs of schedules, they are primarily provided to learn how the Icepack models work.

The Network Sourcing model provides a template for assessing different design configurations of logistics networks and optimising the cost of moving loads through the system. Three types of nodes can be specified, namely source (e.g. production), intermediate (e.g. distribution centers) and sink (e.g. customers).

If you are just starting out, begin with Requirements and Setup and work your way through each sample template for the Vehicle Routing models provided.