A quick sufficient solution to the More-for-Less paradox in the transportation problem

In a transportation problem, is it possible to find a solution with less (or equal) cost than the optimal solution by shipping more units under the condition that at least the same amount is shipped from each supply point and to each market? This more-for-less analysis could be useful for managers in decisions such as increasing warehouse/plant capacity, or advertising efforts to increase demand at certain markets. In this paper we develop a sufficient condition to identify candidate markets and supply points. The method is easy to apply and can serve as an effective tool for managers in solving the more-for-less paradox for large transportation problems, by providing the user with an insight into the problem. The procedure developed in this paper can also be used as an affective alternate solution algorithm for solving certain transportation problems.