Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661

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Applied Mathematical Modelling

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apm

A new method for solving fuzzy transportation problems

using ranking function
Amarpreet Kaur ⇑, Amit Kumar
School of Mathematics and Computer Applications, Thapar University, Patiala 147 004, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In the literature, several methods are proposed for solving transportation problems in
Received 16 March 2010 fuzzy environment but in all the proposed methods the parameters are represented by nor-
Received in revised form 26 April 2011 mal fuzzy numbers. [S.H. Chen, Operations on fuzzy numbers with function principal,
Accepted 8 May 2011
Tamkang Journal of Management Sciences 6 (1985) 13–25] pointed out that in many cases
Available online 17 May 2011
it is not to possible to restrict the membership function to the normal form and proposed
the concept of generalized fuzzy numbers. There are several papers in the literature in
Keywords:
which generalized fuzzy numbers are used for solving real life problems but to the best
Ranking function
Generalized trapezoidal fuzzy number
of our knowledge, till now no one has used generalized fuzzy numbers for solving the
Fuzzy transportation problems transportation problems. In this paper, a new method is proposed for solving fuzzy trans-
portation problems by assuming that a decision maker is uncertain about the precise val-
ues of the transportation cost, availability and demand of the product. In the proposed
method transportation cost, availability and demand of the product are represented by
generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. To illustrate the proposed method a numerical
example is solved and the obtained results are compared with the results of existing meth-
ods. Since the proposed method is a direct extension of classical method so the proposed
method is very easy to understand and to apply on real life transportation problems for
the decision makers.
Ó 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

In today’s highly competitive market, the pressure on organizations to find better ways to create and deliver value to cus-
tomers becomes stronger. How and when to send the products to the customers in the quantities, they want in a cost-effec-
tive manner, become more challenging. Transportation models provide a powerful framework to meet this challenge. They
ensure the efficient movement and timely availability of raw materials and finished goods.
The basic transportation problem was originally developed by Hitchcock [1]. The transportation problems can be modeled
as a standard linear programming problem, which can then be solved by the simplex method. However, because of its very
special mathematical structure, it was recognized early that the simplex method applied to the transportation problem can
be made quite efficient in terms of how to evaluate the necessary simplex method information (variable to enter the basis,
variable to leave the basis and optimality conditions). Charnes and Cooper [2] developed the stepping stone method which
provides an alternative way of determining the simplex method information. Dantzig and Thapa [3] used the simplex meth-
od to the transportation problem as the primal simplex transportation method. An initial basic feasible solution (IBFS) for the
transportation problem can be obtained by using the north-west corner (NWC) rule, row minima, column minima, matrix
minima (least-cost), or the vogel’s approximation method. The modified distribution method is useful for finding the optimal
solution for the transportation problem.

⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: amanpreettoor@gmail.com (A. Kaur), amit_rs_iitr@yahoo.com (A. Kumar).

0307-904X/$ - see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.apm.2011.05.012
 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661 5653

In conventional transportation problems it is assumed that decision maker is sure about the precise values of transpor-
tation cost, availability and demand of the product. In real world applications, all the parameters of the transportation prob-
lems may not be known precisely due to uncontrollable factors. This type of imprecise data is not always well represented by
random variable selected from a probability distribution. Fuzzy number [4] may represent this data. So, fuzzy decision mak-
ing method is needed here.
Zimmermann [5] showed that solutions obtained by fuzzy linear programming are always efficient. Subsequently, Zim-
mermann’s fuzzy linear programming has developed into several fuzzy optimization methods for solving the transportation
problems. Oheigeartaigh [6] proposed an algorithm for solving transportation problems where the capacities and require-
ments are fuzzy sets with linear or triangular membership functions. Chanas et al. [7] presented a fuzzy linear programming
model for solving transportation problems with crisp cost coefficients and fuzzy supply and demand values. Chanas and
Kuchta [8] proposed the concept of the optimal solution for the transportation problem with fuzzy coefficients expressed
as fuzzy numbers, and developed an algorithm for obtaining the optimal solution. Saad and Abbas [9] discussed the solution
algorithm for solving the transportation problem in fuzzy environment.
Liu and Kao [10] described a method for solving fuzzy transportation problems based on extension principle. Gani and
Razak [11] presented a two stage cost minimizing fuzzy transportation problem (FTP) in which supplies and demands are
trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. A parametric approach is used to obtain a fuzzy solution and the aim is to minimize the sum
of the transportation costs in the two stages. To deal with uncertainties of supply and demand parameters, Gupta and Mehla-
wat [12] transformed the past data pertaining to the amount of supply of the ith supply point and the amount of demand of
the jth demand point using level (k, q) interval-valued fuzzy numbers.
Dinagar and Palanivel [13] investigated FTP, with the aid of trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Fuzzy modified distribution meth-
od is proposed to find the optimal solution in terms of fuzzy numbers. Pandian and Natarajan [14] proposed a new algorithm
namely, fuzzy zero point method for finding fuzzy optimal solution for such fuzzy transportation problems in which the
transportation cost, supply and demand are represented by trapezoidal fuzzy numbers.
Chen [15] pointed out that in many cases it is not to possible to restrict the membership function to the normal form and
proposed the concept of generalized fuzzy numbers. In most of the papers the generalized fuzzy numbers are converted into
normal fuzzy numbers through normalization process [16] and then normal fuzzy numbers are used to solve the real life
problems. Kaufmann and Gupta [16] pointed out that there is a serious disadvantage of the normalization process. Basically
we have transformed a measurement of an objective value to a valuation of a subjective value, which results in the loss of
information. Although this procedure is mathematically correct, it decreases the amount of information that is available in
the original data, and we should avoid it.
There are several papers [17–22] in which generalized fuzzy numbers are used for solving real life problems but
to the best of our knowledge, till now no one has used generalized fuzzy numbers for solving the transportation
problems.
In this paper, a new method is proposed for solving fuzzy transportation problems by assuming that a decision
maker is uncertain about the precise values of the transportation cost, availability and demand of the product. In
the proposed method transportation cost, availability and demand of the product are represented by generalized trap-
ezoidal fuzzy numbers. To illustrate the proposed method a numerical example is solved and the obtained results are
compared with the results of existing methods. Since the proposed method is a direct extension of classical method
so the proposed method is very easy to understand and to apply on real life transportation problems for the decision
makers.
This paper is organized as follows: In Section 2, method for comparing generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers is pre-
sented. In Section 3, formulation of fuzzy transportation problems and its dual are presented. In Section 4, new methods
are proposed to find the initial fuzzy basic feasible solution (IFBFS) and fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy transportation
problems. In Section 5, the proposed methods are compared. The results of a fuzzy transportation problem obtained by
using with and without normalization process are discussed in Section 6. To show the application of proposed method,
a real life problem, chosen from literature, is solved by the proposed method in Section 7. The conclusions are discussed
in Section 8.

2. Comparison of generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

In this section, the existing method [23], used in the numerical examples, for comparing generalized trapezoidal fuzzy
numbers is presented.
e ¼ ða1 ; b1 ; c1 ; d1 ; w1 Þ and B
Let A e ¼ ða2 ; b2 ; c2 ; d2 ; w2 Þ be two generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers then use the following
e
steps to compare A and B: e

Step 1: Find w = minimum (w1, w2)

e ¼ wða1 þb1 þc1 þd1 Þ and Rð BÞ
Step 2: Find Rð AÞ e ¼ wða2 þb2 þc2 þd2 Þ
4 4

e > Rð BÞ
Case (i) If Rð AÞ e then Ae >R B e Bg
e i.e., minimum f A; e ¼ e
B
e < Rð BÞ
Case (ii) If Rð AÞ e then Ae <R B e Bg
e i.e., minimum f A; e ¼ e
A
e e e e e e ¼
Case (iii) If Rð AÞ ¼ Rð BÞ then A ¼R B i.e., minimum f A; Bg e ¼ B.
A e
5654 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661

3. Fuzzy transportation problems

In conventional transportation problems it is assumed that decision maker is sure about the precise values of transpor-
tation cost, availability and demand of the product. In real world applications, all these parameters of the transportation
problems may not be known precisely due to uncontrollable factors. For example, In real life problems the following situa-
tion may occur:

(a) Let a product is to be transported first time at a destination and no expert have knowledge about the transportation
cost then there exist uncertainty about the transportation cost.
(b) If a new product is launched in the market then there always exists uncertainty about the demand of that particular
product.
(c) In daily life problems, it can be seen that whenever a demander ask to a supplier that the particular product is avail-
able or not, some times supplier answers yes it is available but after a few seconds supplier answers sorry at this time
this product is not available. Sometimes a supplier does not have any uncertainty about the statement that the prod-
uct is available or not. When a demander demands for a particular product the supplier answer yes, the product is
available, but if the demand of product is large then again supplier says, I check that so much quantity is available
or not i.e., their exist uncertainty about the availability of product. To deal with such situations, fuzzy set theory is
applied in literature to solve the transportation problems.

Several authors [10,13,14] have proposed different methods for solving such type of transportation problems by repre-
senting the transportation cost, availability and demand as normal fuzzy numbers. The fuzzy transportation problems, in
which a decision maker is uncertain about the precise values of transportation cost, availability and demand may be formu-
lated as follows:

Minimize x~0 ;
X
n
subject to ~i ;
~xij 6R a i ¼ 1; 2; 3; . . . ; m;
j¼1
X
m
~;
~xij PR b j ¼ 1; 2; 3; . . . ; n;
j
i¼1
~xij PR 0 8i; j;

where
Pm Pn
~
x0 ¼R i¼1
~ ~
j¼1 c ij
xij total fuzzy transportation cost
~i
a the total fuzzy availability of the product at ith source
~
b j
the total fuzzy demand of the product at jth destination
~cij unit fuzzy transportation cost from the ith source to the jth destination
~xij the number of approximate units of the product that should be transported from the ith source
to jth destination or fuzzy decision variables
P Pn ~
If m ~
i¼1 ai ¼R j¼1 bj then the FTP is said to be balanced fuzzy transportation problem, otherwise it is called unbalanced fuz-
zy transportation problem.

3.1. Fuzzy dual of a balanced fuzzy transportation problem

Let us write the fuzzy primal and fuzzy dual of the balanced fuzzy transportation problem. The fuzzy primal is:

Minimize x~0 ;
X
n
subject to ~i ;
~xij ¼R a i ¼ 1; 2; 3; . . . ; m;
j¼1
X
m
~;
~xij ¼R b j ¼ 1; 2; 3; . . . ; n;
j
i¼1

P Pn
where ~x0 ¼R m i¼1 j¼1 c ij  xij and xij PR 0 8i; j
~ ~ ~
~ i be the fuzzy dual variables associated with ith row constraint and v
Let u ~ j be the fuzzy dual variables associated with jth
column constraint. Then the fuzzy dual of the above problem will be
 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661 5655

!
X
m X
n
Maximize ~i  u
a ~i  ~  v~ ;
b j j
i¼1 j¼1

subject to u~i  v~j 6R ~cij ;

v j unrestricted:
uei ; f
In fuzzy basic feasible solution (FBFS) of primal problem m + n  1 fuzzy variables are basic and remaining are non basic.
Hence by complementary slackness theorem,

~i  v
u ~ j ¼R ~cij in m + n  1 basic cells
~i  v
u ~ j 6R ~cij in remaining cells (non basic cells).

4. Proposed methods

There are different methods in the literature [7,9–14] for solving balanced fuzzy transportation problems but in all the
above methods neither ranking function nor generalized fuzzy numbers are used for finding the IFBFS and fuzzy optimal
solution.

4.1. Methods to find initial fuzzy basic feasible solution (IFBFS)

In this section, some new methods (generalized fuzzy north-west corner method, generalized fuzzy least-cost method
and generalized fuzzy vogel’s approximation method) are introduced to find IFBFS of the following FTP:
Minimize ~x0 ;
X
n
subject to ~xij ¼R aei ; i ¼ 1; 2; 3; ::; m;
j¼1

X
m
~;
~xij ¼R b j ¼ 1; 2; 3; . . . ; n;
j
i¼1
Pm Pn
where ~
x0 ¼ i¼1
~ ~
j¼1 cij xij and ~
xij PR 0 8i; j

The steps for finding the IFBFS of the above problem are as follow:

Step 1: Formulate the given real life transportation problem as a fuzzy linear programming problem (FLPP).
Step 2: Set up the formulated FLPP into the tabular form known as fuzzy transportation table (FTT). Represent the cost,
availability and demand of the product as generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers.
P Pn ~ P Pn ~
Step 3: Examine whether m ae ¼ b or m e
i¼1 ai – R j¼1 bj
Pm Pn ~ i¼1 i R j¼1 j
Case (i) If i¼1 aei ¼R j¼1 bj . Go to Step 4.
Pm Pn ~
Case (ii) If i¼1 aei >R j¼1 bj , then introduce a dummy column having all its cost as zero generalized trapezoidal fuzzy num-
P P ~
ber. Assume m aei  nj¼1 b j as the fuzzy demand at this dummy destination. Go to Step 4.
Pm Pn i¼1
~
Case (iii) If i¼1 aei <R j¼1 bj , then introduce a dummy row having all its cost as zero generalized trapezoidal fuzzy number.
P ~ Pm
Assume nj¼1 b j  e
i¼1 ai as the fuzzy availability at this dummy source. Go to Step 4.
Step 4: Apply the proposed generalized fuzzy north-west corner method (GFNWCM) or generalized fuzzy least-cost method
(GFLCM) or generalized fuzzy vogel’s approximation method (GFVAM) to find the IFBFS.

4.2. Generalized fuzzy north-west corner method (GFNWCM)

The steps for finding the IFBFS using GFNWCM are as follow:

Step 1: Select the NWC cell of the FTT and find minimum of aei and b ~.
j
There may arise the following three cases:
Case (i) If minimum ð aei ; b ~Þ¼a xij ¼ aei in the NWC of m  n FTT. Ignore the ith row to obtain a new FTT of
~i , then allocate ~
j
order (m  1)  n. Replace b ~ by b~  ae in the obtained FTT. Go to Step 2.
j j i
Case (ii) If minimum ð aei ; b ~Þ¼b ~ , then allocate ~xij ¼ b~ in the NWC of m  n FTT. Ignore the jth column to obtain a new FTT
j j j
of order m  (n  1). Replace aei by aei  b ~ in the obtained FTT. Go to Step 2.
j
~ , then either follow Case (i) or Case (ii) but not both, simultaneously. Go to Step 2.
Case (iii) If aei ¼R bj
Step 2: Repeat Step 1 for the obtained FTT, until the FTT is reduced into a FTT of order 1  1.
Step 3: Allocate all ~ xij in the (i, j)th cell of the given FTT.
P Pn
Step 4: The obtained IFBFS and initial fuzzy transportation cost are ~ xij and m i¼1
~ ~
j¼1 cij  xij , respectively.
5656 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661

4.3. Generalized fuzzy least-cost method (GFLCM)

The steps for finding the IFBFS using GFLCM are as follow:

Step 1: Determine the smallest fuzzy cost in FTT. Let it be ~cij . Find ~ xij = minimum (a ~ ). There may arise the following three
~i ; bj
cases:
Case (i) If minimum ð aei ; b ~j Þ ¼ a xij ¼ aei in the (i, j)th cell of m  n FTT. Ignore the ith row to obtain a new FTT
~i , then allocate ~
of order (m  1)  n. Replace b ~ by b~  ae in the obtained FTT. Go to Step 2.
j j i
Case (ii) If minimum ð aei ; b ~j Þ ¼ bej , then allocate ~
xij ¼ b~j in the (i, j)th cell of m  n FTT. Ignore the jth column to obtain a new
FTT of order m  (n  1). Replace aei by aei  b ~ in the obtained FTT. Go to Step 2.
j
~
Case (iii) If aei ¼R bj , then either follow Case (i) or Case (ii) but not both, simultaneously. Go to Step 2.
Step 2: Repeat Step 1 for the obtained FTT, until the FTT is reduced into a FTT of order 1  1.
Step 3: Allocate all ~ xij in the (i, j)th cell of the given FTT.
P Pn
Step 4: The obtained IFBFS and initial fuzzy transportation cost are ~ xij and mi¼1
~ ~
j¼1 cij  xij , respectively.

4.4. Generalized fuzzy vogel’s approximation method (GFVAM)

The steps for finding IFBFS using GFVAM are as follow:

Step 1: Take the first row and choose its smallest entry and subtract this from next smallest entry, and write in front of the
row on the right. This is the fuzzy penalty for first row. Similarly compute fuzzy penalties for all the columns and
write them in the bottom of the FTT below corresponding columns.
Step 2: Select the highest fuzzy penalty and observe the row or column for which this corresponds. Determine the smallest
~ Þ.
xij = minimumð aei ; b
fuzzy cost in the selected row or column. Let it be ~cij . Find ~ j

There may arise the following three cases:

Case (i) If minimumð aei ; b ~ Þ ¼ ae , then allocate ~xij ¼ aei in the (i, j)th cell of m  n FTT. Ignore the ith row to obtain a new FTT
j i
of order (m  1)  n. Replace b ~ by be  ae in obtained FTT. Go to Step 3.
j j i
Case (ii) If minimumð aei ; b ~Þ¼b ~ , then allocate ~xij ¼ b~ in (i, j)th cell of m  n FTT. Ignore the jth row to obtain a new FTT of
j j j
order m  (n  1). Replace aei by aei  b ~ in obtained FTT. Go to Step 3.
j
~ , then either follow Case (i) or Case (ii) but not both, simultaneously. Go to step 2.
Case (iii) If aei ¼R bj
Step 3: Calculate fresh penalties for the obtained FTT as in Step 1. Repeat Step 2, until the FTT is reduced into FTT of order
1  1.
Step 4: Allocate all ~ xij in the (i, j)th cell of the given FTT.
P Pn
Step 5: The IFBFS solution and initial fuzzy transportation cost are ~ xij and mi¼1
~ ~
j¼1 c ij  xij , respectively.

4.5. Generalized fuzzy modified distribution method

In this section, generalized fuzzy modified distribution method is introduced to find the fuzzy optimal solution of a FTP
with the help of IFBFS.
The steps for finding the fuzzy optimal solution are as follow:

Step 1: Find the IFBFS of FTP using GFNWCM or GFLCM or GFVAM.

Step 2: Introduce the fuzzy dual variable u ~ i and v
~ j corresponding to each ith row and jth column, respectively. Write u ~ i in
front of each ith row and v ~ j at the bottom of each jth column. Take any one of the u ~ i or v
~ j to be zero generalized
trapezoidal fuzzy number.
Step 3: For basic cells, u~i  v~j ¼R ~cij . This relation assigns values to all u ~ i and v
~j.
Step 4: For non basic cells find the rank of d ~ ¼ ~c  ðu ~i  v
~ j Þ and write them in corner of the concerned cell.
ij ij

The following two cases may arise:

Case (i) ~ PR 0 8i; j. Then the obtained IFBFS is fuzzy optimal solution.
dij
Case (ii) ~ij such that d
There exist at least one d ~ij <R 0. Then the obtained IFBFS is not fuzzy optimal solution. Go to Step 5.
Step 5: In the FTT, choose that d~ whose rank is most negative.
ij
Step 6: Assign ~h quantity in that cell corresponding to which rank of d ~ij is most negative and make a loop as follow:
Rule for making the loop: Start from ~ h cell and move horizontally and vertically to the nearest basic cell with the
restriction that the turn of the loop must not lie in any non-basic (except ~ h cell). In this way, return to the ~
h cell
to complete the loop.
Step 7: Add and subtract ~ h in cornered ~xij of the loop maintaining feasibility, and value of ~ h is fixed as minimum of the
~
entries from which h subtracted.
 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661 5657

Step 8: Inserting the fixed value of ~

h, the next FBFS is obtained which improves the initial fuzzy transportation cost. While
inserting the value of ~
h one cell assumes 0~ value. Here 0
~ will not mention as this is the fuzzy leaving variable, i.e.,
this cell has become non basic. This gives the improved FBFS.
Step 9: Again, use the latest FBFS, and repeat Steps 1 to 8 until d~ PR 0 8i; j.
ij
P Pn
Step 10: The obtained fuzzy optimal solution and fuzzy optimal cost are ~ xij and mi¼1
~ ~
j¼1 c ij  xij , respectively.

5. Comparison among different proposed methods

In crisp transportation problems first the IBFS is obtained by using north-west corner method or least-cost method or
vogel’s approximation method etc. and then fuzzy modified distribution method is applied on the obtained IBFS to find
the optimal solution. In general, it is assumed that if modified distribution method is applied on the IBFS, obtained by using
vogel’s approximation method, to find the optimal solution then the total number of iterations in fuzzy modified distribution
method will be less than as compared to the other mentioned methods i.e., in most of the cases vogel’s approximation meth-
od is the best among the above mentioned methods but this statement is not always true.
In this Section, a fuzzy transportation problem, chosen in Example 1, is solved by using all the proposed methods and
shown that it is not possible to choose the best method among the GFNWCM, GFLCM and GFVAM.

Example 1. The approximate availability ða ~Þ

~i Þ of the product available at three origins Si, i = 1, 2, 3; approximate demand ðb j
~
of the product at three destinations Dj, j = 1, 2, 3; and the approximate unit transportation cost ðcij Þ of the product from each
origin to each destination is represented by generalized trapezoidal fuzzy number and shown in Table 1. Determine the fuzzy
optimal transportation of products such that the total fuzzy transportation cost is minimum.
The results of the fuzzy transportation problem, chosen in Example 1, obtained by using different proposed methods are
shown in Table 2.
It is obvious from the results, shown in Table 2, that the rank of fuzzy optimal solution obtained by applying the fuzzy
modified distribution method on the IFBFS, obtained by using different proposed methods, are same while the total number
of iterations in fuzzy modified distribution method applying on the IFBFS, obtained by GFNWCM are less than as compared to
other methods i.e., it is also not possible to choose the best method among the GFNWCM, GFLCM and GFVAM for obtaining
the fuzzy optimal solution.

6. Results and discussion

In most of the papers the generalized fuzzy numbers are converted into normal fuzzy numbers through normalization
process [16] and then normal fuzzy numbers are used to solve the real life problems. Kaufmann and Gupta [16] pointed
out that there is a serious disadvantage of the normalization process. Basically we have transformed a measurement of
an objective value to a valuation of a subjective value, which results in the loss of information. Although this procedure is
mathematically correct, it decreases the amount of information that is available in the original data, and we should avoid it.
To explain the disadvantages of the normalization process the fuzzy transportation problem, chosen in Example 1 is
solved using the proposed method with and without normalization process and the obtained results are discussed in Section
6.1.

6.1. Results with and without normalization process

If all the parameters, represented as generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, are collected from the same decision maker
on the basis of decision maker’s experience then the obtained results (with and without normalization process) are ex-
plained in Sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.

6.1.1. Results with normalization process

If all the values of the parameters used in example are first normalized and then the generalized fuzzy modified distri-
bution method is applied on the IFBFS, obtained by GFNMCM, the fuzzy optimal value ~ x0 ¼ ð199:25; 54:75; 248:5; 521; 1Þ.
The membership function for the obtained result is shown in Fig. 1.

Table 1
Fuzzy transportation cost for unit quantity of the product between different sources and destinations.

D1 D2 D3 ~i Þ
Availabilityða
S1 (1, 4, 9, 19; .5) (1, 2, 5, 9; .4) (2, 5, 8, 18; .5) (1, 5, 7, 9; .2)
S2 (8, 9, 12, 26; .5) (3, 5, 8, 12; .2) (7, 9, 13, 28; .4) (4, 7, 8, 10; .5)
S3 (11, 12, 20, 27; .5) (0, 5, 10, 15; .8) (4, 5, 8, 11; .6) (4, 5, 8, 11; .6)
~Þ
Demand ðbj
(3, 5, 8, 12; .4) (4, 8, 9, 10; .2) (2, 4, 6, 8; .3)
5658 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661

Table 2
Comparison among different proposed methods.

Method used for finding the Numbers of iterations of fuzzy Minimum fuzzy transportation Rank of minimum fuzzy transportation
IFBFS modified distribution method for cost cost
obtaining the fuzzy optimal
solution by using the obtained
IFBFS
GFNWCM 1 (199.25, 54.75, 248.5, 521; .2) 31.25
GFLCM 3 (346.25, 7, 296.25, 668; .2) 31.25
GFVAM 2 (199.25, 54.75, 248.5, 521; .2) 31.25

From the Fig. 1 it is clear that

(i) According to decision maker the minimum transportation cost will be greater than 199.25 units and less than 521
units.
(ii) The overall level of satisfaction of the decision maker about the statement that the minimum transportation cost will
be 54.75 to 248.5 units is 100 %.
(iii) The overall level of satisfaction of the decision maker for the remaining remaining values of minimum transportation
cost can be obtained as follows: Let x represents the minimum transportation cost then the overall level of satisfaction
of the decision maker for x ¼ l~x0 ðxÞ  100,
8 ðxþ199:25Þ
>
> 254
; 199:25 6 x < 54:75;
>
< 1; 54:75 6 x 6 248:5;
whereleðxÞ ¼ ðx521Þ
A >
> ; 248:5 6 x 6 521;
>
: 272:5
0; otherwise:

6.1.2. Results without normalization process

If the values of the parameters of the same example is not normalized and then the generalized fuzzy modified distribu-
tion method is applied on the IFBFS, obtained by GFNMCM, the fuzzy optimal value ~x0 ¼ ð199:25; 54:75; 248:5; 521; :2Þ. The
membership function for the obtained result is shown in Fig. 2.
From the Fig. 2 it is clear that

(i) According to decision maker the minimum transportation cost will be greater than 199.25 units and less than 521
units.
(ii) The overall level of satisfaction of the decision maker about the statement that the minimum transportation cost will
be 54.75 to 248.5 units is 20 %.
(iii) The overall level of satisfaction of the decision maker for the remaining remaining values of minimum transportation
cost can be obtained as follows: Let x represents the minimum transportation cost then the overall level of satisfaction
of the decision maker for x ¼ l~x0 ðxÞ  100,
8 ðxþ199:25Þ
>
> :2 254 ; 199:25 6 x < 54:75;
>
< :2; 54:75 6 x 6 248:5;
where; le ðxÞ ¼
A > ðx521Þ
> :2 272:5 ; 248:5 6 x 6 521;
>
:
0; otherwise:

µ ~x ( x )
0

Minimum transportation cost (x)

− 199.25 54.75 248.5 521

Fig. 1. Normal trapezoidal fuzzy number.

 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661 5659

µ ~x ( x )
0

Minimum transportation cost (x)

− 199.25 54.75 248.5 521

Fig. 2. Generalized trapezoidal fuzzy number.

It is obvious from the results explained in Sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 that according to decision maker the range of minimum
transportation cost is same in both cases i.e., minimum transportation cost will be greater than 199.25 units and less than
521 units but due to normalization process the overall level of satisfaction for different values of minimum transportation
cost is changed.

For example: Results with normalization process represents that the overall level of satisfaction of the decision maker
about the statement that the minimum transportation cost will be 54.75 to 248.5 units is 100% while without normalization
process the overall level of satisfaction for the same range is 20%.
Similarly by putting different values of x in l~x0 ðxÞ it can be found that the overall level of satisfaction of the decision ma-
ker for the same values of minimum transportation cost are different in both cases i.e., using the normalization process the
actual information is lost. Hence, it is better to use generalized fuzzy numbers instead of normal fuzzy numbers, obtained by
using normalization process.
The results, obtained by using another methods, can also be explained in the similar manner.

7. Case study

To show the application of proposed methods the existing real life fuzzy transportation problem [24], chosen in Example
2, is solved by using the proposed methods and the obtained results are discussed.

Example 2 [24]. Dali Company is the leading producer of soft drinks and low- temperature foods in Taiwan. Currently, Dali
plans to develop the South- East Asian market and broaden the visibility of Dali products in the Chinese market. Notably,
following the entry of Taiwan to the World Trade Organization, Dali plans to seek strategic alliance with prominent
international companies, and introduced international bread to lighten the embedded future impact. In the domestic soft
drinks market, Dali produces tea beverages to meet demand from four distribution centers in Taichung, Chiayi, Kaohsiung,
and Taipei, with production being based at three plants in Changhua, Touliu, and Hsinchu. According to the preliminary
environmental information, Table 3 summarizes the potential supply available from these three plants, the forecast demand
from the four distribution centers, and the unit transportation costs for each route used by Dali for the upcoming season.
The environmental coefficients and related parameters generally are imprecise numbers with triangular possibility dis-
tributions over the planning horizon due to incomplete or unobtainable information. For example, the available supply of the
Changhua plant is (7.2, 8, 8.8; 1) thousand dozen bottles, the forecast demand of the Taichung distribution center is
(6.2, 7, 7.8; 1) thousand dozen bottles, and the transportation cost per dozen bottles from Changhua to Taichung is
($8, $10, $10.8; 1).
Due to transportation costs being a major expense, the management of Dali is initiating a study to reduce these costs as
much as possible.
The results of the fuzzy transportation problem, chosen in Example 2, obtained by using the existing and proposed meth-
ods are shown in Table 4.
It is obvious from the results that the rank of fuzzy transportation cost obtained by using the existing method [24] and
proposed methods are same but for solving the problem by using the existing method there is need to solve a multi-objective
linear programming problem while in the literature [2] for solving transportation problems tabular methods are preferred as
compared to linear programming techniques and so it can be suggested to use proposed method instead of existing method
for solving fuzzy transportation problems.

Remark 7.1. We know that in a triangular fuzzy number (a, b, c) the relation a 6 b 6 c should be satisfied but we want to
point out that in the published paper [24, Table 3, p. 106] it is claimed that by applying the existing method the obtained
total fuzzy transportation cost is ($352000, $315800, $367000; 1) and it can be easily seen that in the mentioned results the
5660 A. Kaur, A. Kumar / Applied Mathematical Modelling 35 (2011) 5652–5661

Table 3
Summarized data in the Dali case (in U.S. dollar).

Source Destination Supply (000 dozen bottles)

Taichung Chiayi Kaohsiung Taipei
Changhua ($8, $10, $10.8; 1) ($20.4, $22, $24; 1) ($8, $10, $10.6; 1) ($18.8, $20, $22; 1) (7.2, 8, 8.8; 1)
Touliu ($14, $15, $16; 1) ($18.2, $20, $22; 1) ($10, $12, $13; 1) ($6, $8, $8.8; 1) (12, 14, 16; 1)
Hsinchu ($18.4, $20, $21; 1) ($9.6, $12, $13; 1) ($7.8, $10, $10.8; 1) ($14, $15, $16; 1) (10.2, 12, 13.8; 1)
Demand (000 dozen bottles) (6.2, 7, 7.8; 1) (8.6, 10, 11.4; 1) (6.5, 8, 9.5; 1) (7.8, 9, 10.2; 1)

Table 4
Comparison among different proposed methods.

Method used for finding the IFBFS Minimum fuzzy transportation cost Rank of Minimum fuzzy transportation cost
GFNWCM ($279600, $352000, $382000; 1) $341400
GFLCM ($279600, $352000, $382000; 1) $341400
GFVAM ($279600, $352000, $382000; 1) $341400
Exsiting method [24] ($279600, $352000, $382000; 1) $341400

second value i.e., $315800 is less than the first value i.e., $352000 which represents that the total fuzzy transportation cost is
not a triangular fuzzy number. But on solving the same problem by the existing method [24] the obtained total minimum
fuzzy transportation cost is ($279600, $352000, $382000; 1) which is a triangular fuzzy number. It shows that the authors
have done some calculation mistake. The solution of the same problem obtained by using the existing method [24] are
shown in Table 4.

8. Conclusions

In this paper new methods are proposed for finding the IFBFS and the fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy transportation prob-
lems in which the transportation cost availability and demand of the product are represented as generalized trapezoidal fuz-
zy numbers. The advantages of the proposed methods are discussed and a numerical example is solved to illustrate the
proposed methods. The proposed methods are very easy to understand and to apply for solving the fuzzy transportation
problems occurring in real life situations.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank to the Editor-in-Chief ‘Professor M. Cross’ and the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions which
have led to an improvement in both the quality and clarity of the paper. I, Dr. Amit Kumar, want to acknowledge the ado-
lescent inner blessings of Mehar. I believe that Mehar is an angel for me and without Mehar’s blessing it was not possible to
think the idea proposed in this paper. Mehar is a lovely daughter of Parampreet Kaur (Research Scholar under my
supervision).

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