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A Queuing System: Avg Time in System Avg Number in System

1) Queuing analysis is important for capacity planning and process design in industries where waiting times are common, like service systems. 2) A queuing system has components like an arrival process, service mechanism, queue, and service process. Key parameters include the arrival and service processes, number of servers, and queue discipline. 3) Multiple server queues can provide differentiated service but a single queue ensures fairness through a first-in, first-out process.

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Didik Javier Hariyanto
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59 views12 pages

A Queuing System: Avg Time in System Avg Number in System

1) Queuing analysis is important for capacity planning and process design in industries where waiting times are common, like service systems. 2) A queuing system has components like an arrival process, service mechanism, queue, and service process. Key parameters include the arrival and service processes, number of servers, and queue discipline. 3) Multiple server queues can provide differentiated service but a single queue ensures fairness through a first-in, first-out process.

Uploaded by

Didik Javier Hariyanto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A Queuing System

Average Wait
in Queue (Wq )
Service

Arrival Departure
Rate (
Average Number Rate (
in Queue (Lq )

Avg Time in System (W )

Avg Number in System (L ) 1


Why is Queuing Analysis Important?
• Capacity problems are very common in industry and one
of the main drivers of process redesign
– Need to balance the cost of increased capacity against the gains of
increased productivity and service
• Queuing and waiting time analysis is particularly important
in service systems
– Large costs of waiting and of lost sales due to waiting

Prototype Example – ER at County Hospital


• Patients arrive by ambulance or by their own accord
• One doctor is always on duty
• More and more patients seeks help  longer waiting times
 Question: Should another MD position be instated?
2
Examples of Real World Queuing Systems?

• Commercial Queuing Systems


– Commercial organizations serving external customers
– Ex. Dentist, bank, ATM, gas stations, plumber, garage …
• Transportation service systems
– Vehicles are customers or servers
– Ex. Vehicles waiting at toll stations and traffic lights, trucks or ships
waiting to be loaded, taxi cabs, fire engines, elevators, buses …
• Business-internal service systems
– Customers receiving service are internal to the organization providing
the service
– Ex. Inspection stations, conveyor belts, computer support …
• Social service systems
– Ex. Judicial process, the ER at a hospital, waiting lists for organ
transplants or student dorm rooms … 3
Components of a Basic Queuing Process

Input Source The Queuing System

Served
Calling Jobs Service Jobs
Queue Mechanism
Population
leave the
system

Arrival Queue
Process Discipline
Service
Queue
Process
Configuration
4
Principal Queue Parameters
1. Calling Population
2. Arrival Process
3. Service Process
4. Number of Servers
5. Queue Discipline

5
1. The Calling Population
• Population of customers or jobs
• The size can be finite or infinite
– The latter is most common
• Can be homogeneous
– Only one type of customers/ jobs
• Or heterogeneous
– Several different kinds of customers/jobs

6
2. Arrival Process
• In what pattern do jobs / customers arrive to the
queueing system?
– Distribution of arrival times?
– Batch arrivals?
– Finite population?
– Finite queue length?
• Poisson arrival process often assumed
– Many real-world arrival processes can be modeled
using a Poisson process
7
3. Service Process
• How long does it take to service a job or
customer?
– Distribution of arrival times?
– Rework or repair?
– Service center (machine) breakdown?
• Exponential service times often assumed
– Works well for maintenance or unscheduled service
situations

8
4. Number of Servers
• How many servers are available?
Single Server Queue

Multiple Server Queue

9
Example – Two Queue Configurations

Multiple Queues Single Queue


Servers Servers

10
Multiple v.s. Single Customer Queue
Configuration
Multiple Line Advantages Single Line Advantages

1. The service provided can 1. Guarantees fairness


be differentiated – FIFO applied to all arrivals
– Ex. Supermarket express lanes 2. No customer anxiety
2. Labor specialization possible regarding choice of queue
3. Customer has more flexibility 3. Avoids “cutting in” problems
4. Balking behavior may be 4. The most efficient set up for
deterred minimizing time in the queue
– Several medium-length lines are 5. Jockeying (line switching) is
less intimidating than one very avoided
long line

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5. Queue Discipline
• How are jobs / customers selected from the queue
for service?
– First Come First Served (FCFS)
– Shortest Processing Time (SPT)
– Earliest Due Date (EDD)
– Priority (jobs are in different priority classes)
• FCFS default assumption for most models

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