Economic Models for Industrial Waiting Line Problems

Studies of industrial waiting line problems typically involve determining the proper balance between the amount of service and the amount of waiting for that service. This paper presents some basic results for the case where the study is to be based upon fundamental cost considerations and the assumption of an infinite calling population. Included are a number of economic models and accompanying procedures for determining the level of service which minimizes the total of the expected cost of service and the expected cost of waiting for that service.