LP-Shift : creating optimal staff shift patterns, and weekly or daily workload covering  

Possible shifts are created according to the various parameters governing working conditions, e.g. length of shifts, regulations concerning breaks, possible shift start and end times, etc.

LP-Shift can manage several activities. The workload must be covered whilst minimising a criterion such as the number of non-productive hours. This type of optimisation tool enables powerful simulations to study the impact of new working conditions (such as the introduction of part-time jobs, new regulations concerning breaks, etc.).

Input data

• The workload of each activity over a day or a week, defined by a time span (one hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.): one value per time span, per day, and per activity
• Rules for shifts and breaks: earliest and latest start time, minimum and maximum durations, start- and end-of-service times, etc.
• When necessary, employee group attributes with their specific rules for shifts, e.g. duration of the work week, minimum and maximum workforce

Results

• The list of working hours and breaks which best cover the required workload
• The quantity of non-productive hours, and where they are likely to be. 
• Key indicators, including the productivity of work hours (= ratio of the total number of workload hours covered/the total duration of work schedules) and the workforce required by employee group, etc.

Eurodecision's LP-Shift optimises the number of days worked to cover a variable workload.

Examples of completed projects:

• SNCF (French national railways): shorter queues at ticket windows
• Eurocontrol Maastricht: Optimisation of both the size and schedules of air traffic controller teams according to the forecast air traffic