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1. Software Downloads
- Learn and understand
queuing dynamics:
- BAT Case: For the BAT Fast Track
case, you should calculate queueing performance measures with a
spreadsheet. You have a choice of two equivalent Excel aids that give exact performance statistics
of a single-node, single-queue service facility with c customer service agents and
a limited waiting room of K.
Your choices are:
1.
The spreadsheet Queue.xls:
this is a simple spreadsheet with handy user-interface.
2.
The Queueing ToolPak Excel add-in: Save the following
file on your hard drive: qtp2_97.exe . Then double click the
file. This will install all files associated with the Queueing
ToolPak 2.01 in the appropriate folders.
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Activation: Open Excel and go to: Tools -> Add-ins. Scroll down
the list and you should see "Queueing ToolPak 2.01". Check the
box if it is not already checked and press OK.
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Try out this simple example.
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The add-in has the advantage that you can use functions in any
cell (instead of having to call the queue-performance interface
manual). Plus, this add-in has good help files + now you can just
calculate waiting time by inserting a function from the excel function
line.
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The only slight disadvantage of the add-in, developed by
colleagues at the University
of Alberta, is that
they use slightly different notation: Queue length Ii is denoted by Lq,
and flow time T is denoted by W, but that shouldn't create problems.
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For credits and updates: go to http://www.bus.ualberta.ca/aingolfsson/QTP
Notice:
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Both Queue.xls and Queuing ToolPak assume that both interarrival
and service times are exponentially distributed.
o
If you want to have performance estimates of other interarrival
and service time distributions, one must use simulation. The results
are estimates rather than
exact and improve as the length of simulation is increased. This
simulation can be done in Process Model or also with the Excel spreadsheet Queueing Simulator.
2. Readings
and Related Links
- Supply and Demand
Management:
- Capacity Management and
Queuing:
- Telemarketing:
- Pricing to manage
congestion and queueing:
- NPR interview (Jan 06, 2005) with MIT Professor
Richard Larson on waiting lines at Disney, in banks, restaurants and
other settings.
Last Modified on
February 20, 2008 by MAL.
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