A Queuing Model for Determining System Manning and Related Support Requirements
Report Number: AMRL TDR 64-21
Author(s): Barton, H. R., Purvis, R. E., Stuart, J. E., Mallory, W. K.
Corporate Author(s): Radio Corporation of America
Laboratory: Behavioral Sciences Laboratory
Date of Publication: 1964-01
Pages: 164
Contract: AF 33(657)-9439
DoD Project: 1710
DoD Task: 171006
Identifier: AD0434803
Abstract:
Increasing need for earlier estimates of manning, skills and training requirements led to the development of mathematically sophisticated techniques capable of computing and assessing requirements at every phase of system development. Current methods are largely intuitive, rely on bookkeeping procedures, and are seldom applicable at pre-hardware stages of system development. Needed was a method for making trade-offs when investigating alternatives in system design. The method presented here begins with an analysis of hardware functions and develops human requirements in terms of operational needs and service rates. Manning and skill requirements are integrated over such factors as desired operational readiness, schedules of mission frequency, various environmental demands, maintenance concepts and procedures, and training requirements. Two mathematical techniques; queuing theory and linear programming, are used to compute manning requirements and training needs. In practice, failed systems or units pile up in lines waiting for service, or else men are incompletely utilized. Queuing tables permit trade-offs between men, skill levels, sparing levels and downtime with given values for operational readiness. The Simplex algorithm permits trade-offs and optimal determination of training needs for given plicies of phaseover and training cost. An advantage of the method is that its formal and mathematical structure permits objective assessment at all stages of system development.
Provenance: RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Author(s): Barton, H. R., Purvis, R. E., Stuart, J. E., Mallory, W. K.
Corporate Author(s): Radio Corporation of America
Laboratory: Behavioral Sciences Laboratory
Date of Publication: 1964-01
Pages: 164
Contract: AF 33(657)-9439
DoD Project: 1710
DoD Task: 171006
Identifier: AD0434803
Abstract:
Increasing need for earlier estimates of manning, skills and training requirements led to the development of mathematically sophisticated techniques capable of computing and assessing requirements at every phase of system development. Current methods are largely intuitive, rely on bookkeeping procedures, and are seldom applicable at pre-hardware stages of system development. Needed was a method for making trade-offs when investigating alternatives in system design. The method presented here begins with an analysis of hardware functions and develops human requirements in terms of operational needs and service rates. Manning and skill requirements are integrated over such factors as desired operational readiness, schedules of mission frequency, various environmental demands, maintenance concepts and procedures, and training requirements. Two mathematical techniques; queuing theory and linear programming, are used to compute manning requirements and training needs. In practice, failed systems or units pile up in lines waiting for service, or else men are incompletely utilized. Queuing tables permit trade-offs between men, skill levels, sparing levels and downtime with given values for operational readiness. The Simplex algorithm permits trade-offs and optimal determination of training needs for given plicies of phaseover and training cost. An advantage of the method is that its formal and mathematical structure permits objective assessment at all stages of system development.
Provenance: RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine