The Optimality of Unbalancing Both Workloads and Machine Group Sizes in Closed Queueing Networks of Multiserver Queues

Kathryn E. Stecke and James J. Solberg
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Kathryn E. Stecke: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
James J. Solberg: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Operations Research, 1985, vol. 33, issue 4, 882-910

Abstract: Using a closed queueing network model, we explore the consequences of varying workloads among multiserver queues that may be of unequal size. In addition, we solve the problem of assigning servers of similar types to the queues in the network to maximize expected throughput.We show that (1) unbalanced configurations of assigned servers are superior to balanced ones, and (2) unbalanced workloads are better than balanced ones. We find that there can be significant differences in system throughput from balanced versus unbalanced configurations/workloads. Finally, we discuss applications to planning problems of flexible manufacturing systems.

Keywords: 581 planning and control of flexible manufacturing systems; 694 closed queueing network model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1985
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:oropre:v:33:y:1985:i:4:p:882-910

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