Production and Operations
Management
Dr. Darshan Pandya
MBA (BA) | 2024-25 | SBM | NMIMS Mumbai
Maximum Line Length
• An issue that often arises in service system log K ln K
design is how much space should be Lmax = or
log ln
allocated for waiting lines
where
• The approximate line length, Lmax, that will specified
1−
not be exceeded a specified percentage of the percentage
time can be determined using the following: K=
Lq (1 − )
Determine the
maximum
length of a
waiting line for
specified
probabilities of
95% and 98%,
for a system in
which
M = 2,
λ = 8/hour,
μ = 5/hour
Determine the
maximum
length of a
waiting line for
specified
probabilities of
95% and 98%,
for a system in
which
M = 2,
λ = 8/hour,
μ = 5/hour
Constraint Management
• Managers may be able to reduce waiting lines by actively managing one
or more system constraints:
• Fixed short-term constraints
• Facility size
• Number of servers
• Short-term capacity options
• Use temporary workers
• Shift demand
• Standardize the service
• Look for a bottleneck
Operations Strategy
• Managers must carefully weigh the costs and benefits of
service system capacity alternatives
• Options for reducing wait times:
• Work to increase processing rates, instead of increasing the number
of servers
• Use new processing equipment and/or methods
• Reduce processing time variability through standardization
Psychology of Waiting
• If those waiting in line have nothing else to occupy their
thoughts, they often tend to focus on the fact they are waiting in
line
• They will usually perceive the waiting time to be longer than the
actual waiting time
Psychology of Waiting
Steps can be taken to make waiting more acceptable to
customers:
• Occupy them while they wait
• In-flight snack
• Have them fill out forms while they wait
• Make the waiting environment more comfortable
• Provide customers information concerning their wait
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