Linear and mixed-integer programming technologies have been employed with tremendous success in the manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, natural resource and utility industries since the 1960s. Mathematical programming approaches for solving hundreds of problem types are well documented, understood and deployed successfully in most industries.

Improving solution times dramatically
Algorithmic innovations pioneered by ILOG during the past 18 years have improved solution times by more than a factor of 100. Together with advances in computers, this dramatic improvement means that problems considered unapproachable only a few years ago are now readily solved -- many in real time. Mathematical programming approaches are especially well suited for planning applications.