User Guide

Getting Started

1. Accessing the Application

1. Log into the FlowOpt platform
2. Navigate to the Delivery Schedule Optimization application
3. Create a new instance or select an existing one

2. Initial Setup

1. Download the input template
2. Prepare your data following the Input Data Guide
3. Save your Excel file

Running the Optimization

1. Data Upload

1. Click "Import Excel"
2. Select your prepared Excel file
3. Wait for the upload to complete
4. Verify the data preview

2. Running the Model

1. Click "Optimize"
2. Wait for the optimization to complete
3. Review the optimization statistics
4. Check the solution status

3. Reviewing Results

1. Examine the output tables
2. Check key metrics
3. Verify constraints are satisfied
4. Export results if needed

Common Tasks

1. Creating a New Plan

1. Start with a new instance
2. Upload fresh data
3. Run optimization
4. Save results

2. Modifying an Existing Plan

1. Load existing instance
2. Update input data
3. Re-run optimization
4. Compare with previous results

3. Analyzing Results

1. Use the built-in visualization tools
2. Export data for detailed analysis
3. Generate reports
4. Share results with stakeholders

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Data Upload Errors

   • Check file format
   • Verify required columns
   • Ensure data validation rules are met

2. Optimization Failures

   • Check for infeasible constraints
   • Verify capacity limits
   • Review shipping rules

3. Unexpected Results

   • Check input data
   • Review constraints
   • Verify shipping policies

Error Messages

1. "Invalid Data Format"

   • Check Excel template
   • Verify column names
   • Ensure correct data types

2. "Infeasible Solution"

   • Check capacity constraints
   • Review shipping windows
   • Verify transportation policies

3. "Missing Required Data"

   • Check all required tables
   • Verify no empty cells
   • Ensure all IDs exist

Best Practices

1. Data Preparation

• Use the provided template
• Validate data before upload
• Keep master data up to date
• Document any assumptions

2. Running the Model

• Start with a small test case
• Verify results are reasonable
• Document any changes
• Keep track of different scenarios

3. Results Analysis

• Review key metrics
• Check constraint satisfaction
• Compare with historical data
• Document findings

4. Maintenance

• Regular data updates
• Policy reviews
• Performance monitoring
• User feedback collection

Support

For technical support or questions:

1. Check the documentation
2. Contact your system administrator
3. Submit a support ticket
4. Reach out to the development team

Updates and Changes

• Regular updates to the application
• New features and improvements
• Bug fixes and patches
• Documentation updates