Linear Programming Problem Involving Wine Production

This case study involves the formulation of a wine production problem as a linear programming problem. A vintner producing two types of wine (M and D) to sell to the local shop knows the profit figures ($/gal) for each type. The requirements of each type of wine in terms of the ingredients, namely, grapes, sugar and extract are also known. As the vintner has some constraints on these ingredients, he wishes to know how best to proceed. A mathematical solution is obtained using the simplex method and sensitivity analysis is used to study the effects of changes in the key parameters on the optimal solution. In this way the vintner obtains important information on how to use his resources to maximize profit. The solution is validated by using the linear programming computer package LINDO and the mathematical software package MAPLE.