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Throughput Maximization for Tandem Lines with Two Stations and Flexible Servers

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  • Sigrún Andradóttir

    (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0205)

  • Hayriye Ayhan

    (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0205)

Abstract

For a Markovian queueing network with two stations in tandem, finite intermediate buffer, and M flexible servers, we study how the servers should be assigned dynamically to stations to obtain optimal long-run average throughput. We assume that each server can work on only one job at a time, that several servers can work together on a single job, and that the travel times between stations are negligible. Under these assumptions, we completely characterize the optimal policy for systems with three servers. We also provide a conjecture for the structure of the optimal policy for systems with four or more servers that is supported by extensive numerical evidence. Finally, we develop heuristic server-assignment policies for systems with three or more servers that are easy to implement, robust with respect to the server capabilities, and generally appear to yield near-optimal long-run average throughput.

Suggested Citation

  • Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan, 2005. "Throughput Maximization for Tandem Lines with Two Stations and Flexible Servers," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 53(3), pages 516-531, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:53:y:2005:i:3:p:516-531
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1040.0200
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan & Douglas G. Down, 2003. "Dynamic Server Allocation for Queueing Networks with Flexible Servers," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 51(6), pages 952-968, December.
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    7. Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan & Douglas G. Down, 2001. "Server Assignment Policies for Maximizing the Steady-State Throughput of Finite Queueing Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 47(10), pages 1421-1439, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gregory Dobson & Tolga Tezcan & Vera Tilson, 2013. "Optimal Workflow Decisions for Investigators in Systems with Interruptions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(5), pages 1125-1141, May.
    2. Dimitrios G. Pandelis, 2014. "Optimal control of noncollaborative servers in two‐stage tandem queueing systems," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 61(6), pages 435-446, September.
    3. Bendel, Dan & Haviv, Moshe, 2018. "Cooperation and sharing costs in a tandem queueing network," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(3), pages 926-933.
    4. Tuğçe Işık & Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan, 2016. "Optimal control of queueing systems with non-collaborating servers," Queueing Systems: Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 84(1), pages 79-110, October.
    5. Aili (Alice) Zou & Douglas G. Down, 2018. "Asymptotically Maximal Throughput in Tandem Systems with Flexible and Dedicated Servers," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 35(05), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Eser Kırkızlar & Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan, 2010. "Robustness of efficient server assignment policies to service time distributions in finite‐buffered lines," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 57(6), pages 563-582, September.
    7. Andradóttir, Sigrún & Ayhan, Hayriye, 2021. "Optimizing the interaction between residents and attending physicians," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 290(1), pages 210-218.
    8. Gregory Dobson & Hsiao-Hui Lee & Arvind Sainathan & Vera Tilson, 2012. "A Queueing Model to Evaluate the Impact of Patient "Batching" on Throughput and Flow Time in a Medical Teaching Facility," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 584-599, October.
    9. Yun Fong Lim & Bingnan Lu & Rowan Wang & Wenjia Zhang, 2020. "Flexibly Serving A Finite Number of Heterogeneous Jobs in A Tandem System," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(6), pages 1431-1447, June.
    10. Down, Douglas G. & Karakostas, George, 2008. "Maximizing throughput in queueing networks with limited flexibility," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(1), pages 98-112, May.
    11. Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan & Douglas G. Down, 2007. "Compensating for Failures with Flexible Servers," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 55(4), pages 753-768, August.
    12. Ramesh Arumugam & Maria Mayorga & Kevin Taaffe, 2009. "Inventory based allocation policies for flexible servers in serial systems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 1-23, November.
    13. Peng Wang & Kai Pan & Zhenzhen Yan & Yun Fong Lim, 2022. "Managing Stochastic Bucket Brigades on Discrete Work Stations," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(1), pages 358-373, January.
    14. Gabriel Zayas-Cabán & Jingui Xie & Linda V. Green & Mark E. Lewis, 2016. "Dynamic control of a tandem system with abandonments," Queueing Systems: Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 84(3), pages 279-293, December.
    15. Yi‐Chun Tsai & Nilay Tanık Argon, 2008. "Dynamic server assignment policies for assembly‐type queues with flexible servers," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(3), pages 234-251, April.
    16. Eser Kırkızlar & Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan, 2012. "Flexible Servers in Understaffed Tandem Lines," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 21(4), pages 761-777, July.
    17. Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan & Douglas G. Down, 2011. "TECHNICAL NOTE---Queueing Systems with Synergistic Servers," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 59(3), pages 772-780, June.
    18. Tuğçe Işık & Sigrún Andradóttir & Hayriye Ayhan, 2022. "Dynamic Control of Non‐Collaborative Workers When Reassignment Is Costly," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(3), pages 1332-1352, March.

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