Microsoft® Excel® 2010: Data Analysis and Business Modeling

Chapter 78. Queuing Theory: The Mathematics of Waiting in Line

Questions answered in this chapter:

• What factors affect the number of people and the time we spend waiting in line?

• What conditions should be met before analyzing the average number of people present or the average time spent in a queuing system?

• Why does variability degrade the performance of a queuing system?

• Can I easily determine the average time a person spends at airport security or waiting in line at a bank?

We have all spent a lot of time waiting in lines, and you’ll soon see that a slight increase in service capacity can often greatly reduce the size of the lines we encounter. If you run a business, ensuring that your customers do not spend too much time waiting is important. Therefore, ...