Identify the type of queueing network traversed by the passengers. Explain the effect on passenger delays of having (i) multiple X-ray machines and tray racks, (ii) too few trays, and (iii) a single agent for checking boarding passes and identity documents.
Sample Solution
Sample Solution
The type of queueing network traversed by passengers at an airport security checkpoint is a multiple-server, single-queue network. This means that there are multiple servers (X-ray machines and tray racks) that passengers can queue up to use, but there is only one queue.
The effect of having multiple X-ray machines and tray racks is to reduce passenger delays. This is because passengers can be processed more quickly when there are more servers available. For example, if there are two X-ray machines and two tray racks, then two passengers can be processed at the same time. However, if there is only one X-ray machine and one tray rack, then only one passenger can be processed at a time.
The effect of having too few trays is to increase passenger delays. This is because passengers will have to wait longer for a tray to become available. For example, if there are only two trays for a queue of 10 passengers, then the average passenger will have to wait 5 minutes for a tray to become available.
The effect of having a single agent for checking boarding passes and identity documents is to increase passenger delays. This is because passengers will have to wait longer for the agent to become available. For example, if there is only one agent for a queue of 10 passengers, then the average passenger will have to wait 10 minutes for the agent to become available.
In general, the more servers that are available, the less the passenger delays will be. However, it is also important to consider the number of passengers in the queue. If there are too many passengers in the queue, then even a large number of servers will not be able to reduce the passenger delays significantly.
Here are some additional thoughts on the queueing network at an airport security checkpoint:
- The queueing network can be modeled using a queuing theory model. This model can be used to predict the passenger delays under different scenarios.
- The queueing network can be optimized to reduce passenger delays. This can be done by adjusting the number of servers, the number of trays, and the number of agents.
- The queueing network can be managed to reduce passenger delays. This can be done by using queueing management techniques, such as staggering the arrival of passengers and using priority lanes.