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

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  • Eser Kırkızlar
  • Sigrún Andradóttir
  • Hayriye Ayhan

Abstract

We study the assignment of flexible servers to stations in tandem lines with service times that are not necessarily exponentially distributed. Our goal is to achieve optimal or near‐optimal throughput. For systems with infinite buffers, it is already known that the effective assignment of flexible servers is robust to the service time distributions. We provide analytical results for small systems and numerical results for larger systems that support the same conclusion for tandem lines with finite buffers. In the process, we propose server assignment heuristics that perform well for systems with different service time distributions. Our research suggests that policies known to be optimal or near‐optimal for Markovian systems are also likely to be effective when used to assign servers to tasks in non‐Markovian systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2010

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:navres:v:57:y:2010:i:6:p:563-582
    DOI: 10.1002/nav.20424
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Hong Zhang & Saviour Worlanyo Akuamoah & Wilson Osafo Apeanti & Prince Harvim & David Yaro & Paul Georgescu, 2021. "The Stability Analysis of a Double-X Queuing Network Occurring in the Banking Sector," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(16), pages 1-21, August.

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