Waiting Line Management in Supermarket
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The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management
Final Year Project
Waiting Line Managementin Supermarket Check-Out Process
Group Member | : | Chan WaiNok | | | Chow Yuen Ching | | | Wong Wai Ki | Project Advisor | : | Prof. Rachel Zhang |
Content 1. Introduction 3 1.1 Waiting Line System 3 1.2 Reasons for Managing the Waiting Line in the Check-out Process 6 1.3 Making Decisions 14 1.4 Our Main Focus 19 2. Backgrounds 21 2.1 Specifications of Problems 21 2.2 Potential Solutions 26 2.3 Simulations 30 3. Solutions 41 3.1 Optimal Scheduling 41 3.2 Changing the Settings of Express Counters 53 3.3 Loyalty Card 62 3.4 Analysis of the Check-out System in Foreign Countries 71 4. Conclusions and Discussions 97 4.1 First Step For Improvement – Optimal Scheduling/ Express Counters 97 4.2 Further Improvement 98 5. Reference 102 6. Appendix 104
1. Introduction 1.1 Waiting Line System 1.2.1 Simple Waiting Line System
As doing business, companies may encounter problems when providing services to customers. Whenever the demand of customers exceeds the supplies of services from the companies, customers accumulate and wait and waiting lines, or queues, form as a result (Fitzsimmons & Fitzsimmons, 2004). Generally, waiting line is defined as the medium customers wait for the services.
In a simple waiting line system, there is an individual processing station, which functions as a service provider, while each customer acts as an arrival. Arrivals enter into the station to enjoy service according to their needs, time schedules or personal interests. The rate of arrivals may be various as different customers have preference in entering the station.
The processing station may serve one or more arrivals at the same time, depending on the types of service. When
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management
Final Year Project
Waiting Line Managementin Supermarket Check-Out Process
Group Member | : | Chan WaiNok | | | Chow Yuen Ching | | | Wong Wai Ki | Project Advisor | : | Prof. Rachel Zhang |
Content 1. Introduction 3 1.1 Waiting Line System 3 1.2 Reasons for Managing the Waiting Line in the Check-out Process 6 1.3 Making Decisions 14 1.4 Our Main Focus 19 2. Backgrounds 21 2.1 Specifications of Problems 21 2.2 Potential Solutions 26 2.3 Simulations 30 3. Solutions 41 3.1 Optimal Scheduling 41 3.2 Changing the Settings of Express Counters 53 3.3 Loyalty Card 62 3.4 Analysis of the Check-out System in Foreign Countries 71 4. Conclusions and Discussions 97 4.1 First Step For Improvement – Optimal Scheduling/ Express Counters 97 4.2 Further Improvement 98 5. Reference 102 6. Appendix 104
1. Introduction 1.1 Waiting Line System 1.2.1 Simple Waiting Line System
As doing business, companies may encounter problems when providing services to customers. Whenever the demand of customers exceeds the supplies of services from the companies, customers accumulate and wait and waiting lines, or queues, form as a result (Fitzsimmons & Fitzsimmons, 2004). Generally, waiting line is defined as the medium customers wait for the services.
In a simple waiting line system, there is an individual processing station, which functions as a service provider, while each customer acts as an arrival. Arrivals enter into the station to enjoy service according to their needs, time schedules or personal interests. The rate of arrivals may be various as different customers have preference in entering the station.
The processing station may serve one or more arrivals at the same time, depending on the types of service. When