A Mcdonald's case study by using multi-objective optimization

• Main Author: Chai, Yew Soon
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Industrial engineering::Engineering management
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45048
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In today’s world, queue is a common situation in our life. Whenever we go to the bank or fast food restaurant, we are bound to wait in line to get our transactions done or to buy food. Hence, the study of queue is definitely an important element of certain businesses and organizations in order to serve their customers better. This is also where optimization techniques play an important role to optimize elements such as cost and waiting time in queue. The combination of the study of queue and optimization can generate results which are able to translate directly to a better customer service while maintaining profitability for an organization. In this project, the author will introduce the concept and elements in queuing system and multi-objective optimization. Then, a case study on Nanyang Technological University (NTU) McDonald’s Branch queue is undertaken and presented. A collection of the McDonald’s queue during a certain period of time is carried out and analysis on the queue, which resembles the M/M/c and M/G/c is carried out and explained. A MATLAB simulation for the M/M/c and M/G/c will also be carried out. Thereafter, an optimization for two objectives, which are the waiting time in queues and cost of McDonald’s counters is carried out to obtain pareto frontiers of nondominated solutions. A second optimization for the mean waiting time in queue, cost and mean service time which is related to the staffs’ hiring and training will also be carried out for this project. Various pareto frontiers will be identified from this second optimization and the results of the simulation and optimization will also be discussed in the report.