Place suppliers, factories, distribution centres and retailers on the map, then build the network. Each tier connects to the nearest node downstream, drawing the flow of goods - Supplier → Factory → DC → Retailer - with line weight scaled to volume.
Network design chooses which facilities to open and how flows move end-to-end.
Fixed opening costs trade against variable flow costs in one optimisation.
Fewer facilities cut fixed cost but stretch service - find the knee of the curve.
