Optimization of the T policy M/G/1 queue with server breakdowns and general startup times

This paper investigates the T policy M/G/1 queue with server breakdowns, and startup times. Customers arrive at the system according to a Poisson process. Service times, repair times, and startup times are assumed to be generally distributed. The server is turned on after a fixed length of time T repeatedly until at least one customer is present in the waiting line. The server needs a startup time before starting the service. We analyze various system performance measures and develop the total expected cost function per unit time in which T is a decision variable. We determine the optimum threshold T ∗ and derive analytical results for sensitivity investigations. The sensitivity analysis is particularly valuable to the system analyst when evaluating future conditions. We also present extensive numerical computation for illustration purpose.