Solutions Waiting Lines SuppB

Supplement
Waiting Lines
PROBLEMS
Structure of Waiting-Line Problems
1. Wingard Credit Union
or 13.5%
or 27.1%
or 27.1%
or 18.0%
or 9.0%
The probability that between 1 and 4 customers arrive equals
(0.271+0.271+0.180+0.090=0.812)or 81.2%.
2. Wingard Credit Union part 2
The probability a customer will take less than half a minute is calculated as follows
or 28.3%
The probability that a customer will take more than 3 minutes is calculated as follows
or 13.5%
Using Waiting-Line Models to Analyze Operations
3.
Solomon, Smith and Samson

a. Single-server model, average utilization rate.
8
= = = 0.8 or 80% utilization
10
b. The probability of four or fewer documents in the system is 0.6723 as shown
following. Therefore, the probability of more than four documents in the system
is 1 0.6723 = 0.3277.
B-1
Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
B-2 l PART 1
Managing Processes
Pn = (1 )( )
n
4
P4 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.0819

3
P3 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.1024

2
P2 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.1280

1
P1 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.1600

0
P0 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.2000

= 0.6723
c. The average number of pages of documents waiting to be typed,
8 8
Lq = L =
= 3.2 pages
=
10 10 8
4. Bennys Arcade
Because there are only six machines, we must use the finite source model.
Solver - Waiting Lines
Enter data in yellow shaded areas.
Single-server model
Customers
Arrival Rate ()
Service Rate ()
Multiple-server model
Finite-source model
6
0.02
0.0667
Probability of zero customers in the system (P 0)

Probability of at most
4
customers in the system (P n)
Average utilization of the server ( )

Average number of customers in the system (L)
Average number of customers in line (Lq)
Average waiting/service time in the system (W)
Average waiting time in line (W q)
0.0719
#N/A
0.9281
2.9048
1.9766
46.9227
31.9302
a. Jimmys utilization is 0.9281

b. Average number of machines out of service: L = 2.9048
c. Average time a machine is out of service: W = 46.9227 hours
5.
Moore, Akin, and Payne (dental clinic). Multiple-server model. This problem is
solved with the help of the Waiting Line Analysis module in POM for Windows
a. Operating characteristics when 3 chairs are staffed
Parameter
Value
Waiting Lines
---------------------------------------Arrival rate(lambda)
5
Service rate(mu)
2
Number of servers
3
Result
Value
--------------------------------------------Average server utilization
.83
Average number in the line(Lq)
3.51
Average number in the system(L)
6.01
Average time in the line(Wq)
.7
--- Minutes
42.13
--- Seconds
2528.09
Average time in the system(W)
1.2
--- Minutes
72.13
--- Seconds
4328.09
SUPPLEMENT B
B-3
B-4 l PART 1
Managing Processes
Operating characteristics when 4 chairs are staffed

Parameter
Value
5
Service rate(mu)
2
Number of servers
4
Result
Value
.63
.53
3.03
.11
--- Minutes
6.4
--- Seconds
383.83
.61
--- Minutes
36.4
--- Seconds
2183.83
Operating characteristics when 5 chairs are staffed

Parameter
Value
5
Service rate(mu)
2
Number of servers
5
Result
Value
.5
.13
2.63
.03
--- Minutes
1.56
--- Seconds
93.87
.53
--- Minutes
31.56
--- Seconds
1893.87
When 3 dentists are on staff, average waiting time in line is 42.13 minutes.
Adding a 4th dentist reduces average waiting time to 6.4 minutes.
b. The changes in operating characteristics when 3 or 4 dentists are on staff are
summarized in the table below:
Average utilization
Average number of customers in line
Average number of customers in the system
3 dentists
.83
3.51
6.01
4 dentists % change
.63
-24%
.53
-85%
3.03
-50%
Waiting Lines
SUPPLEMENT B
B-5
c. The changes in operating characteristics when 3 or 5 dentists are on staff are

summarized in the table below:
3 dentists 5 dentists % change
Average utilization
.83
.50
-40%
Average number of customers in line
3.51
.13
-96%
Average number of customers in the system
6.01
2.63
-56%
6.
Fantastic Styling Salon. This problem is solved with the help of the Waiting Line
Analysis module in POM for Windows
a. Operating characteristics with 3 stylists and one line
Parameter
Value
9
Service rate(mu)
4
Number of servers
3
Result
Value
.75
1.7
3.95
.19
--- Minutes
11.36
--- Seconds
681.31
.44
--- Minutes
26.36
--- Seconds
1581.31
Average waiting time is 11.36 minutes

b. Operating characteristics with 3 stylists and individual lines. The following
results are the characteristics of one of the three waiting lines. The arrival rate for
each stylist is 1/3 the rate of the salon.
Parameter
Value
3
Service rate(mu)
4
Number of servers
1
Result
Value
.75
2.25
3
.75
--- Minutes
45
--- Seconds
2700
1
--- Minutes
60
--- Seconds
3600
Average waiting time increases to 45.00 minutes. This phenomenon is often

called a loss of pooling synergy.
B-6 l PART 1
Managing Processes
c. Operating characteristics with 2 stylists and one line.

Parameter
Value
6
Service rate(mu)
4
Number of servers
2
Result
Value
.75
1.93
3.43
.32
--- Minutes
19.29
--- Seconds
1157.14
.57
--- Minutes
34.29
--- Seconds
2057.14
Average waiting time is 19.29 minutes (note the longer waiting time compared to
part a. even though utilization is unchanged)
d. Operating characteristics with 2 stylists and one line:
Characteristics of Perezs line:
Parameter
Value
3.6
Service rate(mu)
4
Number of servers
1
Result
Value
.9
8.1
9
2.25
--- Minutes
135
--- Seconds
8100
2.5
--- Minutes
150
--- Seconds
9000
Waiting Lines
SUPPLEMENT B
B-7
Characteristics of Sloans line:

Parameter
Value
2.4
Service rate(mu)
4
Number of servers
1
Result
Value
.6
.9
1.5
.38
--- Minutes
22.5
--- Seconds
1350
.63
--- Minutes
37.5
--- Seconds
2250
Average waiting time is 135.00 minutes for Perez and 22.50 minutes for Sloan.
Overall average waiting time is (135.00*0.6) + (22.50*0.4) = 90 minutes
7. Local Bank
Multiple server model: s = 3, = 50 customers/ hour., = 60 3 min. per customer
= 20 customers/hour.

Single-server model
Servers
Arrival Rate ()
Service Rate ()
Finite-source model
3
50
20
0.0449
Probability of at least
1

0.9551
0.8333
6.0112
3.5112
0.1202
0.0702
B-8 l PART 1
Managing Processes
a.
b.
c.
Average utilization: = 0.8333

Probability of no customers in the bank: P0 = 0.0449
Average number of customers waiting in line: Lq = 3.5112
d.
e.
Average waiting time in line: Wq = 0.0702 hour, or 4.212 minutes

Average number of customers in the bank: L = 6.0112 or 6 customers
8. Pasquist Water Company

a. Behavior of waiting trucks
1. Will not balk
2. Will wait until served
3. Will arrive according to a Poisson process
b. What is the probability that exactly 10 trucks will arrive between 1:00 p.m. and
2:00 p.m. next Tuesday?
10
[
14(1)] 14(1)
P10 =
e
= .06628 or 6.628%
10!
How likely is it that once a truck is in position at the wellhead, the filling
time will be less than 15 minutes?
P (t T ) = 1 e4(0.25) = 1 .36788 = 0.63212 or 63.212%

c.
Suppose that PWC has only four wellhead pumps.

One waiting line feeding all four stations.
Model selected: M/M/4 Servers: 4 : 14 : 4
System utilization: 88%
Probability that the system is empty: .01 or 1%
Average number in queue: 5.17
Average number in system: 8.67
Average time in queue: .37 hr
Average time in system: .62 hr
One waiting line feeding two wellhead pumps and a second waiting line
feeding two other wellhead pumps. Assume that drivers cannot see each
line and must choose randomly between them. Further, assume that once
a choice is made, the driver cannot back out of the line.
Model selected: 2(M/M/2) Servers:2
:7
:4
System utilization: 88%
Probability that the system is empty: .07*.07 =.0049 or 0.5%
Average number in queue: 5.72*2=11.44
Average number in system: 7.47*2= 14.94
Average time in queue: 0.82 hr
Average time in system: 1.07 hrs.
Waiting Lines
9.
SUPPLEMENT B
B-9
Precision Machine Shop. Single-server model.

With the junior attendant, the average number of idle machinists, L
8
L=
=
=4
10 8
Average hourly idle machinist cost = $20(L) = $20(4) = $80
With the senior attendant, average number of idle machinists, L
8
L=
=
=1
16 8
Average hourly cost of idle machinists drops to $20(L) = $20(l) = $20
Adding the attendant pay gives a total cost of $85 per hour ($80 + $5) for the
junior attendant and $32 per hour ($20 + $12) for the senior attendant. The best
choice is the senior attendant.
10. Hasty Burgers. Single-server model, = 20

a. Find resulting in L = 4.
L=
20
20
4 80 = 20
4 = 100
4=
= 25
The required service rate is 25 customers per hour.
b. Find the probability that more than four customers are in the system. This
is one minus the probability of four or fewer customers in the system.
First we calculate average utilization of the drive-in window.
20
= = = 0.8
25
The probability that more than four customers are in line and being served
is:
P = 1 ( P0 + P1 + P2 + P3 + P4 )
where
n
Pn = (1 )( )
0
1
2
P = 1 {(1 )( ) + (1 )( ) + (1 )( )
3
4
+ (1 )( ) + (1 )( ) }
0
1
2
3
4
P = 1 {(1 ) ( ) + ( ) + ( ) + ( ) + ( ) }
when = 0.8
P = 1 {( 0.2 )[1 + 0.8 + 0.64 + 0.512 + 0.4096]}

P = 0.3277
B-10 l PART 1
Managing Processes
Consequently, there is about a 33 percent chance of more than four customers in

the system.
c. Find the average time in line.
1
Wq = W =
1
= 0.8
25 20
Wq = 0.16 hour or 9.6 minutes
Ten minutes borders on being unbearable, particularly in the atmosphere of
exhaust fumes. Keep in mind that this is an average, and some people must wait
longer.
11. Banco Mexicali. Littles Law.
= 20 customers/hour
L = 4 customers
L =W , or W = L/
W = (4 customers)/(20 customers/hour) = 0.20 hour, or 12 minutes.
12.
Paula Caplin. Littles Law.

a. = 120 jobs/day
W = 4 days
Current work-in-process: L = W = (120 jobs/day)(4 days) = 480 jobs.
b. L must be reduced to 240 jobs. Therefore, either the average number of repairs, ,
or the time in the system, W, must be cut in half (or some combination). Paula has
little or no control over the number of repairs, but has several options for reducing
the time in the system. First, she can identify the bottleneck in the total repair
process and apply the theory of constraints to utilize the bottleneck to its maximum
performance. Second, she can do a process analysis and improve the work methods
at the bottleneck as well as all other processes feeding the bottleneck to improve
overall throughput in the repair process. Finally, if all else fails, she can add capacity
until the goal has been met.
13.
Failsafe Textiles. Multiple-server model. This problem is solved with the help of the
Waiting Line Analysis module in POM for Windows.
In this analysis we determine the expected total labor and machine failure costs for
the existing complement of three employees and then compare it to larger
maintenance complements until costs begin to rise.
Three maintenance people:
Parameter
Value
.33
Service rate(mu)
.13
Number of servers
3
Waiting Lines
SUPPLEMENT B
Result
Value
.89
6.31
8.97
18.95
--- Minutes
1137.07
--- Seconds
68224.34
26.95
--- Minutes
1617.07
--- Seconds
97024.34
The total expected hourly costs for the crew size of three employees is:
Labor:
3 ($80 per hour)
$ 240.00
Machine downtime: 8.97 ($100 per hour)
897.00
TOTAL
$1137.00
Four maintenance people:
Parameter
Value
.33
Service rate(mu)
.13
Number of servers
4
Result
Value
.67
.75
3.42
2.26
--- Minutes
135.61
--- Seconds
8136.52
10.26
--- Minutes
615.61
--- Seconds
36936.52
B-11
B-12 l PART 1
Managing Processes
The total expected hourly costs for the crew size of four employees is:
Labor:
4 ($80 per hour)
$ 320.00
342.00
TOTAL
$ 662.00
Five maintenance people:
Parameter
Value
.33
Service rate(mu)
.13
Number of servers
5
Result
Value
.53
.18
2.85
.55
--- Minutes
33.1
--- Seconds
1986.21
8.55
--- Minutes
513.1
--- Seconds
30786.21
The total expected hourly costs for the crew size of five employees is:
Labor:
5 ($80 per hour)
$ 400.00
285.00
TOTAL
$ 685.00
This total is higher than that for employing four maintenance people. Therefore,
the manager should add only one more maintenance person.
Waiting Lines
SUPPLEMENT B
B-13
14. Benton University

Finite Source Model: = 0.40 copy machines/day, = 2.5 machines/day

Single-server model
Customers
Arrival Rate ()
Service Rate ()
Finite-source model
5
0.4
2.5

Probability of at least
1

a.
b.
c.
15.
0.3775
#N/A
0.6225
1.1094
0.4869
0.7129
0.3129
Utilization of the maintenance person: = 0.6225

Copy machines in repair system: L = 1.094
Time spent in repair system: W = 0.7129 day, or 5.70 hours assuming an
8-hour day.
Vintage Time Video Machine Parlor

The M/M/s with a Finite Population Model is required to answer this problem.
The POM for Windows software, as seen below, provides the solution.
a. The manager is fixing machines 95% of each hour

b. On average, 2.21 machines are broken down and waiting for repair. Note that L
of 3.16 includes machines being repaired.
c. On average, when a machine breaks down, it takes 13.32 minutes to return to
service. For 9.32 minutes the machine is waiting for the manager.
B-14 l PART 1
16.
Managing Processes
Northwood Hospitals Cardiac Care Unit

The M/M/s with a Finite Population Model is required to answer this problem.
The POM for Windows software, as seen below, provides the solution.
a. The average utilization of the nursing staff is 81%

b. On average, .99 or one patient is waiting for a nurse
c. In scenario one, patients must wait 3.66 minutes for a nurse to arrive. In
scenario two, adding a third nurse reduces this time to less than a minute (.66).
17. Quarry
a. Current System: Single-server model
= 9 hour ; = 10 hour
1
1
Average time in the system W =
=
= 1 hour or 60 minutes
10 9
b. First Alternative: Improved single-server model
= 6 hour ; = 15 hour
1
1
Average time in the system W =
= = 0.1111 hour or 6.67 minutes
15 6 9
c. Second Alternative: Two-server model, s = 2, = 9 trucks/hour, = 10
trucks/hour.
Waiting Lines
SUPPLEMENT B
B-15

Single-server model
Servers
Arrival Rate ( )
Service Rate ( )
Finite-source model
2
9
10

at least
Probability of
1
0.3793
0.6207
0.4500
1.1285
0.2285
0.1254
0.0254
Average time in the system: W = 0.1254 hour, or 7.52 minutes.

The second alternative results in an 87 percent reduction in waiting time relative
to the current system, however, the first alternative dominates the second
alternative in time and cost. Nonetheless, to make a final determination between
the current system and the first alternative, the cost of the waiting time of the
trucks must be considered.

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Supplement

Solomon, Smith and Samson

P4 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.0819

P3 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.1024

P2 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.1280

P1 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.1600

P0 = (1 0.8 )( 0.8 ) = 0.2000

Probability of zero customers in the system (P 0)

Average utilization of the server ( )

a. Jimmys utilization is 0.9281

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Operating characteristics when 4 chairs are staffed

Operating characteristics when 5 chairs are staffed

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

c. The changes in operating characteristics when 3 or 5 dentists are on staff are

Average waiting time is 11.36 minutes

Average waiting time increases to 45.00 minutes. This phenomenon is often

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

c. Operating characteristics with 2 stylists and one line.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Characteristics of Sloans line:

Solver - Waiting Lines

Probability of zero customers in the system (P 0)

Average utilization of the server ( )

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Average utilization: = 0.8333

Average waiting time in line: Wq = 0.0702 hour, or 4.212 minutes

8. Pasquist Water Company

P (t T ) = 1 e4(0.25) = 1 .36788 = 0.63212 or 63.212%

Suppose that PWC has only four wellhead pumps.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Precision Machine Shop. Single-server model.

10. Hasty Burgers. Single-server model, = 20

P = 1 {( 0.2 )[1 + 0.8 + 0.64 + 0.512 + 0.4096]}

Consequently, there is about a 33 percent chance of more than four customers in

Paula Caplin. Littles Law.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

14. Benton University

Solver - Waiting Lines

Probability of zero customers in the system (P 0)

Average utilization of the server ( )

Utilization of the maintenance person: = 0.6225

Vintage Time Video Machine Parlor

a. The manager is fixing machines 95% of each hour

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Northwood Hospitals Cardiac Care Unit

a. The average utilization of the nursing staff is 81%

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Solver - Waiting Lines

Probability of zero customers in the system (P 0)

Average time in the system: W = 0.1254 hour, or 7.52 minutes.

Copyright 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

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