Iterative queueing network techniques for the analysis of large maintenance facilities

This paper presents an iterative queueing network model for the steady state performance analysis of a large avionics maintenance facility. The maintenance process involves hundreds of avionic equipment (customer classes), each requiring multiple maintenance operations and an overlapping set of resources (queues) for each operation. A three-level iterative algorithm is used to solve the resulting nonstandard queueing network model. One of the levels employs the well-known mean value analysis (MVA) technique to achieve computational efficiency. The model is currently in use, as part of a larger optimization-based design model, in the analysis and synthesis of maintenance facilities for avionic equipment.