Optimization of lunchtime at the University Restaurant of the Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

University Restaurants play a fundamental role in student retention policies by ensuring access to adequate food, especially for students in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the operation of the University Restaurant at the Santa Mônica Campus of the Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, focusing on reducing waiting times in service queues. The research was developed within the scope of the “Systems Simulation” course of the undergraduate program in Mechatronics Engineering at the same University. Methodologically, the study adopted principles of “queueing theory” and “discrete-event simulation” to model the system and evaluate different operational scenarios. The results showed that the main bottleneck in the process lies in the meal serving stage, and that waiting times could be significantly reduced through interventions such as expanding the service lines and adjusting the organization of user flow. The proposals were presented to the management of the University Restaurant and to the company responsible for the service, contributing to reflections on feasible operational improvements. In addition to the technical results, the study provided significant educational impact for the students by integrating theory and practice in solving a real problem within the academic community.