Robustness of efficient server assignment policies to service time distributions in finite-buffered lines

Naval Research Logistics

Volumn 57, Issue 6, 2010, Pages 563-582

  Kirkizlar, Eser ^a   Andradóttir, Sigrún ^b   Ayhan, Hayriye ^b  

^a BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b Georgia Institute of Technology   (United States)

Author keywords

Finite buffers; Flexible servers; Non Markovian tandem lines; Queueing control; Throughput maximization

Indexed keywords

FINITE BUFFER; FLEXIBLE SERVERS; NON-MARKOVIAN; QUEUEING CONTROL; THROUGHPUT MAXIMIZATION;

OPTIMIZATION; THROUGHPUT;

SERVERS;

EID: 77956915102     PISSN: 0894069X     EISSN: 15206750     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/nav.20424     Document Type: Article

References (41)

1. H.-S. Ahn, I. Duenyas, and M. E. Lewis, The optimal control of a two-stage tandem queueing system with flexible servers, Probability Eng Inform Sci 16 (2002), 453-469.
2. H.-S. Ahn, I. Duenyas, and R. Zhang, Optimal scheduling of a 2-stage tandem queue with parallel servers, Adv Appl Probability 31 (1999), 1095-1117.
3. H.-S. Ahn, I. Duenyas, and R. Zhang, Optimal control of a flexible server, Adv Appl Probability 36 (2004), 139-170.
4. H.-S. Ahn and R. Righter, Dynamic load balancing with flexible workers, Adv Appl Probability 38 (2006), 621-642.
5. S. Andradóttir and H. Ayhan, Throughput maximization for tandem lines with two stations and flexible servers, Operat Res 53 (2005), 516-531.
6. S. Andradóttir, H. Ayhan, and D. G. Down, Server assignment policies for maximizing the steady-state throughput of finite queueing systems, Manage Sci 47 (2001), 1421-1439.
7. S. Andradóttir, H. Ayhan, and D. G. Down, Dynamic server allocation for queueing networks with flexible servers, Operat Res 51 (2003), 952-968.
8. S. Andradóttir, H. Ayhan, and D. G. Down, Compensating for failures with flexible servers, Operat Res 55 (2007), 753-768.
9. S. Andradóttir, H. Ayhan, and D. G. Down, Dynamic assignment of dedicated and flexible servers in tandem lines, Probability Eng Inform Sci 21 (2007), 497-538.
10. S. Andradóttir, H. Ayhan, and D. G. Down, Maximizing the throughput of tandem lines with flexible failure-prone servers and finite buffers, Probability Eng Inform Sci 22 (2008), 191-211.
11. J. J. Bartholdi, III and D. D. Eisenstein, A production line that balances itself, Operat Res 44 (1996), 21-34.
12. J. J. Bartholdi, III, D. D. Eisenstein, and R. D. Foley, Performance of bucket brigades when work is stochastic, Operat Res 49 (2001), 710-719.
13. S. L. Bell and R. J. Williams, Dynamic scheduling of a system with two parallel servers in heavy traffic with complete resource pooling: Asymptotic optimality of a continuous review threshold policy, Ann Appl Probability 11 (2001), 608-649.
14. S. L. Bell and R. J. Williams, Dynamic scheduling of a parallel server system in heavy traffic with complete resource pooling: Asymptotic optimality of a threshold policy, Electron J Probability 10 (2005), 1044-1115.
15. D. Bertsimas and J. N. Tsitsiklis, Introduction to linear optimization, Athena Scientific, Belmont, Massachusets, 1997.
16. I. Duenyas, D. Gupta, and T. L. Olsen, Control of a single server queueing system with setups, Operat Res 46 (1998), 218-230.
17. T. M. Farrar, Optimal use of an extra server in a two station tandem queueing network, IEEE Trans Automatic Control 38 (1993), 1296-1299.
18. E. S. Gel, W. J. Hopp, and M. P. Van Oyen, Factors affecting opportunity of worksharing as a dynamic line balancing mechanism, IIE Trans 34 (2002), 847-863.
19. S. Gurumurthi and S. Benjaafar, Modeling and analysis of flexible queueing systems, Naval Res Logis 51 (2004), 755-782.
20. B. Hajek, Optimal control of two interacting service stations, IEEE Trans Automatic Control 29 (1984), 491-499.
21. J. M. Harrison and M. J. López, Heavy traffic resource pooling in parallel-server systems, Queueing Syst 33 (1999), 339-368.
22. F. S. Hillier and R. W. Boling, The effect of some design factors on the efficiency of production lines with variable operation times, J Ind Eng 17 (1966), 651-658.
23. W. J. Hopp, E. Tekin, and M. P. Van Oyen, Benefits of skill chaining in serial production lines with cross-trained workers, Manage Sci 50 (2004), 83-98.
24. W. J. Hopp and M. P. Van Oyen, Agile workforce evaluation: A framework for cross-training and coordination, IIE Trans 36 (2004), 919-940.
25. S. M. R. Iravani, J. M. Buzacott, and M. J. M. Posner, A robust policy for serial agile production systems, Naval Res Logist 52 (2005), 58-73.
26. S. M. R. Iravani, M. J. M. Posner, and J. M. Buzacott, A twostage tandem queue attended by a moving server with holding and switching costs, Queueing Syst 26 (1997), 203-228.
27. W. C. Jordan and S. C. Graves, Principles on the benefits of manufacturing flexibility, Manage Sci 41 (1995), 577-594.
28. D. L. Kaufman, H.-S. Ahn, and M. E. Lewis, On the introduction of an agile, temporary workforce into a tandem queueing system, Queueing Syst 51 (2005), 135-171.
29. H. E. Kirkizlar, Performance improvements through flexible workforce, Ph. D. Thesis, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 2008.
30. A. Mandelbaum and A. L. Stolyar, Scheduling flexible servers with convex delay costs: Heavy-traffic optimality of the generalized cμ-rule, Operat Res 52 (2004), 836-855.
31. J. O. McClain, L. J. Thomas, and C. Sox, "On-the-fly" line balancing with very little WIP, Int J Prod Econ 27 (1992), 283-289.
32. J. Ostolaza, J. O. McClain, and L. J. Thomas, The use of dynamic (state-dependent) assembly-line balancing to improve throughput, J Manufacturing Operat Manage 3 (1990), 105-133.
33. Z. Rosberg, P. P. Varaiya, and J. C. Walrand, Optimal control of service in tandem queues, IEEE Trans Automatic Control 27 (1982), 600-609.
34. M. Sheikhzadeh, S. Benjaafar, and D. Gupta, Machine sharing in manufacturing systems: Total flexibility versus chaining, Int J Flexible Manufacturing Syst 10 (1998), 351-378.
35. L. Tassiulas and P. P. Bhattacharya, Allocation of interdependent resources for maximal throughput, Stochastic Models 16 (2000), 27-48.
36. M. P. Van Oyen, E. G. S. Gel, and W. J. Hopp, Performance opportunity for workforce agility in collaborative and noncollabortive work systems, IIE Trans 33 (2001), 761-777.
37. R. B. Wallace and W. Whitt, A staffing algorithm for call centers with skill-based routing, Manufacturing Service Operat Manage 7 (2005), 276-294.
38. R. J. Williams, "On dynamic scheduling of a parallel server system with complete resource pooling, " Analysis of communication networks: Call centres, traffic and performance, Volume 28, D. R. McDonald and S. R. E. Turner (Editors), Fields Institute Communications, American Mathematical Society, 2000, pp. 49-71.
39. C.-H. Wu, D. G. Down, and M. E. Lewis, Heuristics for allocation of reconfigurable resources in a serial line with reliability considerations, IIE Trans 40 (2008), 595-611.
40. C.-H. Wu, M. E. Lewis, and M. Veatch, Dynamic allocation of reconfigurable resources in a two-stage tandem queueing system with reliability considerations, IEEE Trans Automatic Control 51 (2006), 309-314.
41. E. Zavadlav, J. O. McClain, and L. J. Thomas, Self-buffering, self-balancing, self-flushing production lines, Manage Sci 42 (1996), 1151-1164.