OPERATION RESEARCH

QUEUING MODELS

1. Single server queuing system (M/M/1)

The observation of one cashier in Starbucks has shown that the arrival distribution of
customers follows poisson distribution arrival rate of λ = 15 customers/hour. The

1
distribution of service time follows exponential distribution with average service time
μ
= 1.6 minutes per customer. Find:
a) Average server utilization
b) Average number of customers waiting
c) Average number in system
d) Average waiting time
e) Average time in the system
f) Probability of 0 customers in system
g) Probability of exactly 3 customers in system
Answer:
λ=15 customers per hour =0.25 min
1
=1.6 minutes per customer =0.625 min
μ
a) Average server utilization :
λ 0.25
ρ= = =0.4
μ 0.625
b) Average number of customers waiting :
λ2
Lq =
μ( μ−λ)
0.252
Lq =
0.625( 0.625−0.25)
Lq=0.2667
c) Average number in system :
λ
L=Lq +
μ
L=0.2667+0.4
L=0.6667
d) Average waiting time :
Lq
W q=
λ
0.2667
W q=
0.25
 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

W q =1.0668
e) Average time in the system :
1
W =W q +
μ
1
W =1.0668+
0.625
W =2.6668
f) Probability of 0 customer in system :
λ
P0=1−
μ
P0=1−0.4
P0=0.6
g) Probability of exactly 3 customers in system :

λ 3
P 3=()
μ
× P0

P3=( 0.4 )3 × 0.6

P3=0.0384

2. Single server queuing system (M/M/1)

Auntie Anne’s has a single cashier. During the rush hours, customers arrive at the rate of
12 customers per hour. The average number of customers that can be processed by the
cashier is 20 customers per hour. Find the following :
a) Average server utilization
b) Average number of customers waiting
c) Average number in system
d) Average waiting time
e) Average time in the system
f) Probability of 0 customers in system
g) Probability of exactly 4 customers in system
Answer:
λ=12 customers per hour
μ=20 customers per hour
a) Average server utilization :
λ 12
ρ= = =0.6
μ 20
 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

b) Average number of customers waiting :

λ2
Lq =
μ( μ−λ)
122
Lq =
20( 20−12)
Lq=0.9
c) Average number in system :
λ
L=Lq +
μ
L=0.9+ 0.6
L=1.5
d) Average waiting time :
Lq
W q=
λ
0.9
W q=
12
W q =0.075
e) Average time in the system :
1
W =W q +
μ
1
W =0.075+
20
W =0.125
f) Probability of 0 customer in system :
λ
P0=1−
μ
P0=1−0.6
P0=0.4
g) Probability of exactly 4 customers in system :

λ 4
P4 = ()μ
× P0

P4 =( 0.6 ) 4 × 0.4

P4 =0.05184

3. Single server queuing system (M/M/1)

 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

Hoka-Hoka Bento has drive-thru service. The estimation of customers will arrive is at
the rate of 10 customers per hour. The staff that works the window can service
customers at the rate of 14 customers per hour. Assuming poisson arrivals and
exponential service, find the following :
a) Average server utilization
b) Average number of customers waiting
c) Average number in system
d) Average waiting time
e) Average time in the system
f) Probability of 0 customers in system
g) Probability of exactly 2 customers in system
Answer:
λ=10 customers per hour
μ=14 customers per hour
a) Average server utilization :
λ 10
ρ= = =0.714
μ 14
b) Average number of customers waiting :
λ2
Lq =
μ( μ−λ)
102
Lq =
14 (14−10)
Lq=1.786
c) Average number in system :
λ
L=Lq +
μ
L=1.786+ 0.714
L=2.5
d) Average waiting time :
Lq
W q=
λ
1.786
W q=
10
W q =0.1786
e) Average time in the system :
 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

1
W =W q +
μ
1
W =0.1786+
14
W =0.250
f) Probability of 0 customer in system :
λ
P0=1−
μ
P0=1−0.714
P0=0.286
g) Probability of exactly 2 customers in system :

λ 2
P 2= ()
μ
× P0

P2=( 0.714 )2 × 0.286

P2=0.146

4. Single server queuing system (M/M/1)

A single-server queuing system with an infinite calling population and a first-come, first-
served queue discipline has the following arrival and service rates (poisson
distributed) :
λ=16 customers per hour
μ=24 customers per hour
Find the following :
a) Average server utilization
b) Average number of customers waiting
c) Average number in system
d) Average waiting time
e) Average time in the system
f) Probability of 0 customers in system
g) Probability of exactly 4 customers in system
Answer:
a) Average server utilization :
λ 16
ρ= = =0.667
μ 24
b) Average number of customers waiting :
 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

λ2
Lq =
μ( μ−λ)
16 2
Lq =
24 (24−16)
Lq=1.333
c) Average number in system :
λ
L=Lq +
μ
L=1.333+ 0.667
L=2
d) Average waiting time :
Lq
W q=
λ
1.333
W q=
16
W q =0.083
e) Average time in the system :
1
W =W q +
μ
1
W =0.083+
24
W =0.125
f) Probability of 0 customer in system :
λ
P0=1−
μ
P0=1−0.667
P0=0.333
g) Probability of exactly 4 customers in system :

λ 4
P4 =() μ
× P0

P4 =( 0.667 )4 × 0.333

P4 =0.066
5. Single server queuing system (M/M/1)
Haagen Dazs Alam Sutera has one cashier that has shown that the arrival distribution of
customers follows poisson distribution with arrival rate of 25 customers per hour. The
 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

distribution of service time follow exponential distribution with the average service
time 30 customers per hour. Assuming poisson arrivals and exponential service, find the
following:
a) Average server utilization
b) Average number of customers waiting
c) Average number in system
d) Average waiting time
e) Average time in the system
f) Probability of 0 customers in system
g) Probability of exactly 3 customers in system
Answer:
λ=25 customers per hour
μ=30 customers per hour
a) Average server utilization :
λ 25
ρ= = =0.833
μ 30
b) Average number of customers waiting :
λ2
Lq =
μ( μ−λ)
252
Lq =
30(30−25)
Lq=4.167
c) Average number in system :
λ
L=Lq +
μ
L=4.167+0.833
L=5
d) Average waiting time :
Lq
W q=
λ
4.167
W q=
25
W q =0.16668
e) Average time in the system :
1
W =W q +
μ
 OPERATION RESEARCH
QUEUING MODELS

1
W =0.16668+
30
W =0.20
f) Probability of 0 customer in system :
λ
P0=1−
μ
P0=1−0.833
P0=0.167
g) Probability of exactly 3 customers in system :

λ 3
P 3= ()
μ
× P0

P3=( 0.833 )3 × 0.167=0.096 5