Waiting line topics

Question 1

Waiting line definition

Answer 1

Waiting line models also known as queuing theory

Question 2

Why it is important?

Answer 2

Plays a crucial role in managing congestion and improving service efficiency.
It also can help businesses optimize service times, reduce customer wait time and balance operational costs.

Question 3

component of waiting line :
Arrivals

Answer 3

-Refers to the number of customers/ items in line. Can be finite (such as machines in a repair shop) or infinite (such as customers in the supermarket)

-The pattern can be scheduled or random, and often following a poisson distribution.

Question 4

component of waiting line :
Waiting line behaviour

Answer 4

-Determine how customers are served. Most common method is FIFO.
-Other methods is priority queues, certain cust receive preferential service (emergency patients in a hospital)

Question 5

component of waiting line :
Service facility

Answer 5

-The structure of the service influences efficiency.
-Service time distribution can be constant (automated car wash) or random (checkout counters in a supermarket)

Question 6

Measuring Queue Performance

Answer 6

• Average time in queue: measures how long cust spends waiting in queue before being served.
• Average Queue in length: measures the number of cust in line at the time.
• Service Utilization: measures the percentage of time service providers are working.
• Probability of idle service facility: measures the likelihood that no cust in the systems.

Question 7

Cost Consideration in Queuing

Answer 7

Service cost: expenses that incurred in providing service, such as employee wages/ equipment costs.

Waiting costs: the cost of cust dissatisfaction/ lost business due to long waiting time.

Question 8

Types of Queing Models:
Single Server Model

Answer 8

Single service stations that serve cust one at a time. Cth, checkout counters at Petronas or any groceries and convenience store.

Question 9

Types of Queing Models:
Multiple Server Model

Answer 9

Multiple service stations that work simultaneously. Cth, Counter Bank that handling different cust one at the same time.

Question 10

Types of Queing Models:
Constant Service Model

Answer 10

Refers to the service times that are predictable and fixed. Cth, speed car wash, where every wash only takes exactly 7 mins.

Question 11

Types of Queing Models:
Finite Population Model with finite source

Answer 11

The number of cust is limited. Cth, A tailor who only accepts fixed orders for making Baju Raya. (limited cust, limited orders)