Minimizing Glass Batch Costs Through Linear Programming

Calculation of a glass batch may be viewed as the solution to a set of simultaneous linear equations and inequations. In specialty glass practice, the complexity of discovering the most economic batch combination meeting chemical requirements leads to sub-optimization of production batches. Complex systems may be solved to yield assured economy using the techniques of linear programming. The principles of linear programming and the application of three commercial software packages for optimizing batch cost are discussed.