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Integrated Simulation, Heuristic and Optimisation Approaches to Staff Scheduling

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew J. Mason

    (University of Auckland, New Zealand)

  • David M. Ryan

    (University of Auckland, New Zealand)

  • David M. Panton

    (University of South Australia, Australia)

Abstract

This paper details a new simulation and optimisation based system for personnel scheduling (rostering) of customs staff at the Auckland International Airport, New Zealand. An integrated approach using simulation, heuristic descent, and integer programming techniques has been developed to determine near-optimal staffing levels. The system begins by using a new simulation system embedded within a heuristic search to determine minimum staffing levels for arrival and departure work areas. These staffing requirements are then used as the input to an integer programming model, which optimally allocates full- and part-time staff to each period of the working day. These shifts are then assigned to daily work schedules having a six-day-on, three-day-off structure. The application of these techniques has resulted in significantly lower staffing levels, while at the same time creating both high-quality rosters and ensuring that all passenger processing targets are met. This paper charts the development of this system, outlines failures where they have occurred, and summarises the ongoing impacts of this work on the organisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew J. Mason & David M. Ryan & David M. Panton, 1998. "Integrated Simulation, Heuristic and Optimisation Approaches to Staff Scheduling," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 46(2), pages 161-175, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:46:y:1998:i:2:p:161-175
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.46.2.161
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Silke Jütte & Daniel Müller & Ulrich W. Thonemann, 2017. "Optimizing railway crew schedules with fairness preferences," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 43-55, February.
    2. Júlíus Atlason & Marina A. Epelman & Shane G. Henderson, 2008. "Optimizing Call Center Staffing Using Simulation and Analytic Center Cutting-Plane Methods," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(2), pages 295-309, February.
    3. Lishun Zeng & Mingyu Zhao & Yangfan Liu, 2019. "Airport ground workforce planning with hierarchical skills: a new formulation and branch-and-price approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 275(1), pages 245-258, April.
    4. Jens O. Brunner & Jonathan F. Bard & Jan M. Köhler, 2013. "Bounded flexibility in days‐on and days‐off scheduling," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 60(8), pages 678-701, December.
    5. Lusby, Richard Martin & Range, Troels Martin & Larsen, Jesper, 2016. "A Benders decomposition-based matheuristic for the Cardinality Constrained Shift Design Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 254(2), pages 385-397.
    6. Knust, Sigrid & Schumacher, Elisabeth, 2011. "Shift scheduling for tank trucks," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 513-521, October.
    7. Pastor, Rafael & Olivella, Jordi, 2008. "Selecting and adapting weekly work schedules with working time accounts: A case of a retail clothing chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 184(1), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Scott E. Sampson, 2008. "OR PRACTICE---Optimization of Vacation Timeshare Scheduling," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 56(5), pages 1079-1088, October.
    9. Eveborn, Patrik & Flisberg, Patrik & Ronnqvist, Mikael, 2006. "Laps Care--an operational system for staff planning of home care," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(3), pages 962-976, June.
    10. Jonathan Bard & David Morton & Yong Wang, 2007. "Workforce planning at USPS mail processing and distribution centers using stochastic optimization," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 51-78, November.
    11. E A Silver, 2004. "An overview of heuristic solution methods," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 55(9), pages 936-956, September.
    12. Ivan Kovynyov & Ralf Mikut, 2019. "Digital technologies in airport ground operations," Netnomics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-30, April.
    13. Defraeye, Mieke & Van Nieuwenhuyse, Inneke, 2016. "Staffing and scheduling under nonstationary demand for service: A literature review," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 4-25.
    14. Lusby, Richard Martin & Range, Troels Martin & Larsen, Jesper, 2015. "A Benders decomposition-based Matheuristic for the Cardinality Constrained Shift Design Problem," Discussion Papers on Economics 9/2015, University of Southern Denmark, Department of Economics.
    15. David Sinreich & Ola Jabali, 2007. "Staggered work shifts: a way to downsize and restructure an emergency department workforce yet maintain current operational performance," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 293-308, September.
    16. Chu, Sydney C.K., 2007. "Generating, scheduling and rostering of shift crew-duties: Applications at the Hong Kong International Airport," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(3), pages 1764-1778, March.
    17. Jaime Miranda & Pablo A. Rey & Antoine Sauré & Richard Weber, 2018. "Metro Uses a Simulation-Optimization Approach to Improve Fare-Collection Shift Scheduling," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 48(6), pages 529-542, November.
    18. Ernst, A. T. & Jiang, H. & Krishnamoorthy, M. & Sier, D., 2004. "Staff scheduling and rostering: A review of applications, methods and models," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(1), pages 3-27, February.
    19. Xiang Li & Haoyue Fan & Jiaming Liu & Qifeng Xun, 2022. "Staff scheduling in blood collection problems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 316(1), pages 365-400, September.
    20. Oyku Ahipasaoglu & Nesim Erkip & Oya Ekin Karasan, 2019. "The venue management problem: setting staffing levels, shifts and shift schedules at concession stands," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 69-83, February.
    21. Weiwei Chen & Siyang Gao & Wenjie Chen & Jianzhong Du, 2023. "Optimizing resource allocation in service systems via simulation: A Bayesian formulation," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 32(1), pages 65-81, January.

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