Case Problem

MOSSAIC TILES, LTD.

Gilbert Moss and Angela Pasaic spent several summers during their college years working at arc
they learned how to make ceramic tiles from local artisans. After college they made use of their c
called Mossaic Tiles, Ltd. They opened their plant in New Mexico, where they would have conven
a clay derivative for their tiles. Their manufacturing operation consists of a few relatively simple
, and glazing. Gilbert and Angela plan to produce two basic types of tile for use in home bathroo
The two types of tile are a larger, single-colored tile and a smaller, patterned tile. In the manufac
a tile is glazed. Either a single color is sprayed over the top of a baked set of tiles or a stenciled p
The tiles are produced in batches of 100. The first step is to pour the clay derivative into speciall
a batch of 100 larger tiles and 15 minutes to prepare a mold for a batch of 100 smaller tiles. The
After the tiles are molded, they are baked in a kiln: 0.27 hour for a batch of 100 larger tiles and
The company has 105 hours availableeach week for baking. After baking, the tiles are either colo
0.16 hour for a batch of 100 larger tiles and 0.20 hour for a batch of 100 smaller tiles. Forty hou
Each batch of 100 large tiles requires 32.8 pounds of the clay derivative to produce, whereas eac
The company has 6,000 pounds of the clay derivative available each week. Mossaic Tiles earns a
$240 for each batch of 100 smaller patterned tiles. Angela and Gilbert want to know how many
maximize profit. In addition, they have some questions about resource usage they would like an

A. Formulate a linear programming model for Mossaic Tiles, Ltd., and determine the mix of tiles
B. Transform the model into standard form.
C. Solve the linear programming model graphically.
D. Determine the resources left over and not used at the optimal solution point.
E. Determine the sensitivity ranges for the objective function coefficients and constraint quantity
F. For artistic reasons, Gilbert and Angela like to produce the smaller, patterned tiles better. The
will be a more successful product. What must the profit be for the smaller tiles in order for the c
G. Solve the linear programming model by using the computer and verify the sensitivity ranges c
H. Mossaic believes it may be able to reduce the time required for molding to 16 minutes for a ba
smaller tiles. How will this affect the solution?
I. The company that provides Mossaic with clay has indicated that it can deliver an additional 10
J. Mossaic is considering adding capacity to one of its kilns to provide 20 additional glazing hou
investment?
K. The kiln for glazing had to be shut down for 3 hours, reducing the available kiln hours from 4

Decision Variables
Batches of tiles to be produced per week
Large Tile Small Tile
(batches of (batches of
100) 100)
 57 154

Constraints
Resource Resource
Used Available
Molding 18.00 15.00 3,336.00 3600
Baking 0.27 0.58 104.71 105
Glazing 0.16 0.20 39.92 40
Clay 32.80 20.00 4,949.60 6000

Objective Function

Profit $ 190.00 $ 240.00

Max Z $ 47,790.00

Decision Variables
Batches of tiles to be produced per week
Large Tile Small Tile
(batches of (batches of
100) 100)
181

Constraints
Resource Resource
Used Available
Molding 18.00 15.00 2,715.00 3600
Baking 0.27 0.58 104.98 105
Glazing 0.16 0.20 36.20 40
Clay 32.80 20.00 3,620.00 6000

Objective Function

Profit $ 190.00 $ 240.00

Max Z $ 43,440.00
H

Decision Variables
Batches of tiles to be produced per week
Large Tile Small Tile
(batches of (batches of
100) 100)
57 154

Constraints
Resource Resource
Used Available
Molding 16.00 12.00 2,760.00 3600
Baking 0.27 0.58 104.71 105
Glazing 0.16 0.20 39.92 40
Clay 32.80 20.00 4,949.60 6000

Objective Function

Profit $ 190.00 $ 240.00

Max Z $ 47,790.00

Decision Variables
Batches of tiles to be produced per week
Large Tile Small Tile
(batches of (batches of
100) 100)
57 154

Constraints
Resource Resource
Used Available
Molding 16.00 12.00 2,760.00 3700
Baking 0.27 0.58 104.71 105
Glazing 0.16 0.20 39.92 40
Clay 32.80 20.00 4,949.60 6000
Objective Function

Profit $ 190.00 $ 240.00

Max Z $ 47,790.00

Decision Variables
Batches of tiles to be produced per week
Large Tile Small Tile
(batches of (batches of
100) 100)
80 143

Constraints
Resource Resource
Used Available
Molding 18.00 15.00 3,585.00 3600
Baking 0.27 0.58 104.54 105
Glazing 0.16 0.20 41.40 60
Clay 32.80 20.00 5,484.00 6000

Objective Function

Profit $ 190.00 $ 240.00

Max Z $ 49,430.00

Decision Variables
Batches of tiles to be produced per week
Large Tile Small Tile
(batches of (batches of
100) 100)
12 175
Constraints
Resource Resource
Used Available
Molding 18.00 15.00 2,841.00 3600
Baking 0.27 0.58 104.74 105
Glazing 0.16 0.20 36.92 37
Clay 32.80 20.00 3,893.60 6000

Objective Function

Profit $ 190.00 $ 240.00

Max Z $ 44,280.00
llege years working at archaeological sites in the Southwest. While at those digs,
e they made use of their college experiences to start a tile manufacturing firm
e they would have convenient access to a special clay they intend to use to make
of a few relatively simple but precarious steps, including molding the tiles, baking
for use in home bathrooms, kitchens, sunrooms, and laundry rooms.
erned tile. In the manufacturing process, the color or pattern is added before
set of tiles or a stenciled pattern is sprayed on the top of a baked set of tiles.
ay derivative into specially constructed molds. It takes 18 minutes to mold
h of 100 smaller tiles. The company has 60 hours available each week for molding.
ch of 100 larger tiles and 0.58 hour for a batch of 100 smaller tiles.
ng, the tiles are either colored or patterned and glazed. This process takes
00 smaller tiles. Forty hours are available each week for the glazing process.
e to produce, whereas each batch of smaller tiles requires 20 pounds.
ek. Mossaic Tiles earns a profit of $190 for each batch of 100 of the larger tiles and
want to know how many batches of each type of tile to produce each week to
usage they would like answered.

determine the mix of tiles it should manufacture each week.

s and constraint quantity values by using the graphical solution of the model.
patterned tiles better. They also believe that in the long run, the smaller tiles
ler tiles in order for the company to produce only the smaller tiles?
fy the sensitivity ranges computed in (E).
ing to 16 minutes for a batch of larger tiles and 12 minutes for a batch of the

n deliver an additional 100 pounds each week. Should Mossaic agree to this offer?
20 additional glazing hours per week, at a cost of $90,000. Should it make the

vailable kiln hours from 40 to 37. What effect will this have on the solution?
 56.701031 154.63918 $ 47,886.60

min <=
hrs <=
hrs <=
lb <=

181.03448 $ 43,448.28

min <=
hrs <=
hrs <=
lb <=
 56.701031 154.63918 $ 47,886.60

min <=
hrs <=
hrs <=
lb <=

56.701031 154.63918 $ 47,886.60

min <=
hrs <=
hrs <=
lb <=
 101.29184 133.88139 $ 51,286.98

min <=
hrs <=
hrs <=
lb <=

11.85567 175.51546 $ 44,376.29