A copier store has four pieces of automatic equipment, but sometimes they are down because they need supplies, maintenance or repair. Each unit requires about two services every hour or, to be exact, each piece of equipment runs an average of 30 minutes before needing service. Service times vary greatly, from a simple service (such as pressing the reset switch or replenishing the paper) to disassembling the equipment in question. However, the average service time is five minutes. The time the equipment is down generates a loss of $60 per hour. The single employee who services the equipment earns $18 per hour. Using finite population analysis, answer the following questions:  a. What is the average number of units idling?  b. What is the average number of units still operating?  c. What is the average number of units being serviced?  d. The company is considering adding another manager at the same wage of $18 per hour. should it do so?

Practical Management Science
6th Edition
ISBN:9781337406659
Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Chapter12: Queueing Models
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 52P
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A copier store has four pieces of automatic equipment, but sometimes they are down because they need supplies, maintenance or repair. Each unit requires about two services every hour or, to be exact, each piece of equipment runs an average of 30 minutes before needing service. Service times vary greatly, from a simple service (such as pressing the reset switch or replenishing the paper) to disassembling the equipment in question. However, the average service time is five minutes. The time the equipment is down generates a loss of $60 per hour. The single employee who services the equipment earns $18 per hour. Using finite population analysis, answer the following questions: 


a. What is the average number of units idling? 

b. What is the average number of units still operating? 

c. What is the average number of units being serviced? 

d. The company is considering adding another manager at the same wage of $18 per hour. should it do so? 

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ISBN:
9781337406659
Author:
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Cengage,