The distance feature can be utilized to incorporate and model based on the real distances provided.
The model will pick the distance first from this table and if it is not available then it will calculate based on the latitude and longitude which is basically the shortest path. (haversine distance * 1.2).
For example, the scenario above demonstrates the road distance of 1500 miles between supplier_1 and plant_2, and 1000 miles between supplier_1 and plant_1. The model will consider these specified distances for calculations, regardless of their respective latitude and longitude.