Queuing theory as a basis for staff placement at a customs post

Abstract

The paper presents the development of economic and mathematical tools to improve managerial decision-making for staff placement at the customs post. As an object of research, the authors analyze the performance of customs operations and customs control by customs officials in relation to individuals transporting goods for personal use across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union at the airport checkpoint – Samara Airport customs post. According to the logic of the queuing theory, a customs post official is a “service channel”, and the flow of passengers at the customs control zone (arrivals area) is a “request”. The optimal placement of officials required at the arrivals area was determined for each of the periods under consideration (12 months in 2019), as well as the average time spent by passengers in the customs control area was estimated. The justification of these parameters based on the queuing theory contributes to achieving the minimum cost of the staff of officials at Samara Airport customs post involved in dealing with individuals transporting goods for personal use across the EAEU customs border.