5 September 2024
John D.C. Little was a prominent American operations researcher and professor, best known for his contributions to the field of queuing theory and for formulating Little's Law. Born in 1931, he earned his PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1955. Little's Law, which he introduced in the 1960s, provides a simple yet powerful formula that relates the average number of items in a queuing system (L), the average arrival rate of items (λ), and the average time an item spends in the system (W). The law is widely applied in various fields, including manufacturing, engineering & construction, telecommunications, and service operations. Little's work has had a lasting impact on operations research and management science, earning him recognition as a key figure in the development of modern queuing theory. Throughout his career, he published numerous papers and influenced many students and professionals in the field.
Little's Law is a fundamental principle in operations science that connects key metrics in queuing systems, making it invaluable in capital project delivery. By illustrating the relationship between the average number of items in a system, their arrival rate, and the time spent in the system, Little's Law helps project professionals optimize workflows and resource allocation. In capital projects, applying operations science fundamentals can lead to more efficient scheduling, improved throughput, and reduced lead times, ultimately enhancing project performance and delivery. It provides a framework for understanding how changes in one aspect of a project can affect overall efficiency, allowing for better decision-making and increased productivity.
In 2016, John Little gave PPI permission to reprint his original article on Little's Law for its 50th anniversary. This article was published in PPI's Journal of Production Management. You can read that article here.