Short note: Application of queuing system

A queuing system is a system where customers arrive, wait for a service and leave. Queuing theory and queue simulation are used wherever waiting happens.

Applications

• Banks and shops: finding the number of tellers or checkout counters that keeps waiting time acceptable.
• Computer systems: CPU scheduling, disk and printer queues, and network routers where packets wait in buffers. Buffer size and processor speed are chosen using queuing models.
• Telecommunication: telephone exchanges and call centres, to decide the number of lines and operators.
• Healthcare: OPD and emergency room patient flow, number of beds and doctors.
• Transport: traffic signals, toll plazas, airport runways and check-in desks.
• Manufacturing: jobs waiting for machines, and the machine repair problem.

Example: if a hospital OPD gets 20 patients per hour and a doctor treats 6 per hour, at least four doctors are needed (20 / 6 = 3.3), otherwise the queue grows without limit. A queuing model also gives the average waiting time for each choice.