Location-allocation models in the private sector: Progress, problems, and prospects

Location-allocation models are widely used in the private and public sector. These models select sites for central facilities that provide service to spatially dispersed demand patterns. This paper identifies major developments in the literature that have been critical in the application of location-allocation models in the private sector and presents a number of important issues that need further discussion to broaden the range of private sector applications. The paper identifies a number of avenues for advancing theory and application of location-allocation models.