Enhancement for human resource management in the ULD build-up process of air-cargo terminal: a strategic linkage approach

This study proposes a strategic linkage method with mathematical model, simulation model and heuristic approaches to an adaptive workforce scheduling problem reflecting the work site situation of the air cargo terminal. For the application of the proposed method, we first generate an initial workforce schedule using the optimization model for minimizing labor costs. The simulation model is then used to verify that the initial schedule is applicable on-site. If the initial plan does not meet the service level expressed as a delay in the departure of aircrafts, by linking optimization and simulation models, additional required personnel are determined for reducing the frequency of departure delay. But, though the experiments, we were able to confirm that the linkage of optimization and simulation alone resulted in the creation of excess manpower. To compensate for the limitation of the linkage, we develop the Backward Removal Heuristics (BRHs) algorithm. In an experiment with BRHs algorithm, we showed that BRHs could reduce the number of unnecessarily added workers based on the interaction between utilization of workers and operation congestion. With case study on the ULD build-up process of K airline air-cargo terminal, the linkage model with BRHs algorithm is tested and proven its effectiveness. The experimental results show that the workforce schedule from the linkage model increases the service level and the cost, but when applied to the BRHs algorithm, the model maintains the service level but decreases the cost.