This is a special case of Linear Programming. This involves problems where one resource is stored or made in several locations and needed in several other locations, e.g. warehousing and distribution. This involves problems such as assigning n drivers to n cars in order to minimize cost or n operators to n tasks to minimize time. This involves problems of resource allocation with the restriction that certain resources are only available in fixed-size units, which can t be split up. Also used in problems of route selection and other problems involving 0-1 variables.
Stochastic models incorporate uncontrolled variation in some way.
The widest use of these models is to the use of statistical forecasting. Typically used for predicting sales, spare parts demands, etc. This model is to mimic real life systems and used to evaluate the real system. This tends to be more theoretical than practical. Problems involving a decision or a series with a small number of options and a small number of outcomes.