Question

A campus deli serves 300 customers over its busy lunch period from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A quick count of the number of customers waiting in line and being served by the sandwich makers shows that an average of 10 customers is in process at any point in time. What is the average amount of time that a customer spends in the process?

Answer 1

4 mins.

Explanation:

Little's law is applied here. The formula for the law is:

Inventory = flow rate * flow time.

Inventory = 300 students

flow time = 120 mins (1:30pm - 11: 30am)

flow rate = inventory/ flow time = 300/120 = 2.5 person/min

To find the time each person spends in the process:

inventory = 10

flow rate = 2.5

flow time = inventory/flow rate = 10/2.5 = 4 mins.