Plant location and vehicle routing in the Malaysian rubber smallholder sector: A case study

This paper deals with real-life problems of plant location and vehicle routing in the smallholdings sector of the Malaysian rubber industry. Operational Research methods that accommodate conditions prevailing in the smallholdings sector (size, constraints, limited finances) are tested on a test region that offers all permutations and combinations of these very conditions. The results show significant benefits to agencies that serve the smallholdings sector. Implementation issues are examined for transfer of technology (methodology) to greatest effect.