title: Two mathematical programming models of cheese manufacture.
abstract: The standardization problem faced by cheese makers is formulated as a nonlinear programming problem using the assumptions of the Van Slyke cheese yield formula. The objective function of the model is to minimize the net cost of producing a given quantity of cheese subject to a set of production constraints. An approximation of the standardization problem formulated as a linear programming problem is also presented. Two different approaches to finding a solution are provided. The model is implemented in Microsoft Excel and solved with the standard add-in solver available in that program. An example is provided to contrast the difference between the nonlinear programming and its linear approximation, and a second example is used to illustrate the yield implications of ultrafiltered milk protein products in Cheddar cheese production. Additionally, a method for pricing inputs using the sensitivity analysis generated by the solver is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA. josephburke@wisc.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D002364:Caseins / Q000032:analysis; D002611:Cheese / Q000032:analysis; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D008894:Milk Proteins