Industrial Engineering · Operations Research · Mathematical paper
A Proof for the Queuing Formula: L = λW
John D. C. Little · 1961
A mathematical relationship connecting the average number of items in a queueing system, its average arrival rate and the average time spent in that system.
The principle
What the source contributes.
Under the stated assumptions, L = λW links work in progress, flow rate and flow time.
Our interpretation
How it informs our approach.
Informs questions about waiting times, order queues, work in progress and the records needed to measure a consistent process boundary.
This connection is MereSimplicity’s editorial interpretation. It is not a statement of endorsement by the authors or evidence of our product’s performance.
Assumptions & limits
Where the claim stops.
Use compatible units, consistent boundaries and appropriate long-run averages under the paper’s assumptions. The formula alone does not identify a bottleneck or explain its cause.
Original source
Trace the publication.
- Title
- A Proof for the Queuing Formula: L = λW
- Authors / institution
- John D. C. Little
- Year
- 1961
- Publication type
- Mathematical paper
- Journal / resource
- Operations Research · 9(3), 383–387
- Publisher / issuer
- INFORMS
- Sources checked