Practice Questions
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Exercise-1
The Alibaug village road has a single tollgate where 2 vehicles arrive per min. A toll agent takes 20 seconds
to process the fee and allow the car to pass. Find:
1. What is the throughput of the fee collection process?
2. What is the utilization of the server?
3. How long does the vehicle wait for processing?
4. How long does the entire process take for a vehicle (waiting + processing)?
5. On average how many vehicles wait in line at the tollgate?
6. How many vehicles are processed at any given time?
7. How many vehicles are at the tollgate (waiting + being processed)?
Notations Parameter Values
1. R= Min (1/a, m/p) Throughput rate = Minimum( demand, system capacity) = Demand 2 vehicles per min
2. u = p/am Utilization of 1 server = demand/capacity = utilization of m servers 2/3 = 0.66
3. Tq Time in queue or waiting time 40 secs
4. T = Tq + p Flow time (sum of waiting and processing times) 20secs + 40secs = 1 min
5. Iq Queue length or avg inventory in waiting 1.33 customers
6. Ip= m x u Avg inventory in process at m servers 1* 0.66 = 0.66
7. I = Iq + Ip Avg inventory in the system 1.33 + 0.66 = 2 vehicles 2
Problem-2
Money Laundry has 10 washers and 15 dryers. All orders are first sent to wash and then to dry. It takes, on
average, 30 minutes to wash one order and 40 minutes to dry.
a. What is the capacity of the washing stage?
b. What is the capacity of the drying stage?
c. Identify the bottleneck(s). Briefly explain.
d. What is the capacity of Money Laundry? Briefly explain.
e. If Money Laundry would like to increase the capacity by buying one more machine, should they buy a
washer or a dryer? Why?
Washer (10) Dryer (15)
Flow unit?
30m 40m
Washer stage Dryer stage
Individual cycle time 30min /order 40min /order
Flow rate (1 machine) 60/30 = 2 orders per hour 60/40 = 1.5 orders per hour
Total capacity 2 x 10 = 20 orders per hour 1.5 x 15 = 22.5 orders per hour
System flow rate Bottleneck: 20 orders per hour
Machine to buy Buy washer – buying one extra washer
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increases capacity to 22 orders per hour
Problem-3
The manager, in earlier problem, Mr. Money, decided not to buy a machine. He still has 10 washers and 15 dryers.
The manager estimates that, on average, Money Laundry receives eight orders every hour. The manager also
finds that, on average, there are five orders in the washing stage and seven orders in the drying stage.
f. What is the utilization of washers, on average?
g. What is the utilization of dryers, on average?
h. On average, how long does it take an order to finish the washing process from the time the order is received?
i. On average, how long does it take an order to finish the drying process from the time the order finishes the
washing process?
j. On average, how long does an order stay in Money Laundry?
Washer stage Dryer stage
Flow rate, R 8 orders per hour 8 orders per hour
Capacity (from previous) 20 orders per hour 22.5 orders per hour
Utilisation % 8 / 20 = 40% 8 / 22.5 = 35.6%
Time for each process I = 5 orders I = 7 orders
Hence T = I/R = 5 / 8 * 60 = 37.5 min Hence T = I/R = 7 / 8 * 60 = 52.5 min
Average flow time 37.5 + 52.5 = 90 min = 1.5 hr 4
Problem-4
Western National Bank is considering opening a drive-through window for customer service.
Management estimates that customers will arrive at the rate of 15 per hour. The teller who will staff
the window can service customers at the rate of 1 every three minutes or 20 per hour.
Assuming Poisson arrivals and exponential service, find:
1. Utilization of the teller.
2. Average number in the waiting line.
3. Average number in the system.
4. Average waiting time in line.
5. Average waiting time in the system, including service.
Formula Value
Inter-arrival time (a) 1 / λ = 1/ 15 hr 60 / 15 = 4m / cust
Processing time (p) 3 min / cust (given) 3 min / cust
Utilisation % a/a 3 / 4 = 75%
Avg waiting in line (Iq) 𝑢2 Τ 1 − 𝑢 (0.75 x 0.75) / (1-0.75) = 2.25 cust
Avg waiting in system (I) 𝑢 Τ 1−𝑢 0.75/ (1-0.75) = 3 cust
Or Iq + u (or 2.25 + 0.75 = 3)
Avg waiting time in queue (Tq) 𝑝⋅𝑢 Τ 1−𝑢 3 x 0.75 / (1-0.75) = 9 min
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Avg waiting in system (T) Tq + p 9 + 3 = 12 min
Practice problems
Other practice problems uploaded on LMS may also be tried out