An application of queuing analysis to the production of aggregates in quarry operations

Simulation is the most desirable of all the analytical tools because it can be used to analyze the operating characteristics of a mine with varying number of service points and conditions in much less time than would be required by other methods. Thus simulation is used to evaluate several alternatives, test assumptions and decisions, and measure the impact of changing conditions on the various facets of mining. Analytical tools such as the manual and graphical methods have been used, and are still being used, successfully, but they have become too cumbersome with regard to time, accuracy, and economics. In this paper, the queuing theory is used to analyze production of aggregates in quarry operations. Specifically, the model is constructed for use on microcomputers. Results obtained from the application of the model to a real quarry show that the method is fast, accurate, and reliable.