A general multi-shift scheduling system

Rotating work schedules are encountered in several industries and public sector organizations where work is carried out 24 h a day, 7 days a week. This article first provides a classification of the main constraint classes governing the design of rotating schedules. A novel constraint programming algorithm is then developed that can handle a wider variety of constraints than other algorithms from the literature. Computational results on several real-life examples confirm the efficiency and robustness of the proposed approach.

[1]  P Knauth,et al.  Designing better shift systems. , 1996, Applied ergonomics.

[2]  Toby Walsh,et al.  Interleaved and Discrepancy Based Search , 1998, ECAI.

[3]  Gilbert Laporte,et al.  Examination Timetabling: Algorithmic Strategies and Applications , 1994 .

[4]  Markus P. J. Fromherz,et al.  Constraint-based scheduling , 2001, Proceedings of the 2001 American Control Conference. (Cat. No.01CH37148).

[5]  Nicholas Beaumont.  Using mixed integer programming to design employee rosters , 1997 .

[6]  Michael J. Colligan,et al.  Plain Language About Shiftwork , 1997 .

[7]  Jacques Desrosiers,et al.  The Preferential Bidding System at Air Canada , 1997, Transp. Sci..

[8]  R. N. Burns,et al.  A Modular Approach to Optimal Multiple-Shift Manpower Scheduling , 1987, Oper. Res..

[9]  Rudy Hung.  Single-shift off-day scheduling of a hierarchical workforce with variable demands , 1994 .

[10]  Michael W. Carter,et al.  Staff Scheduling with Day-Off and Workstretch Constraints , 1979 .

[11]  Rudy Hung.  Shiftwork scheduling algorithms with phase-delay feature , 1997 .

[12]  Michael J. Showalter,et al.  Simple Approaches to Shift, Days-Off and Tour Scheduling Problems , 1983 .

[13]  Edward P. K. Tsang,et al.  Constraint Based Scheduling: Applying Constraint Programming to Scheduling Problems , 2003, J. Sched..

[14]  Rudy Hung.  A Three-Day Workweek Multiple-Shift Scheduling Model , 1993 .

[15]  Nagraj Balakrishnan,et al.  A network model for the rotating workforce scheduling problem , 1990, Networks.

[16]  P Knauth,et al.  Algorithms for the computerised construction of shift systems which meet ergonomic criteria. , 1986, Applied ergonomics.

[17]  Gilles Pesant,et al.  A Filtering Algorithm for the Stretch Constraint , 2001, CP.

[18]  Gilbert Laporte,et al.  The art and science of designing rotating schedules , 1999, J. Oper. Res. Soc..

[19]  Rudy Hung.  A Multiple-Shift Workforce Scheduling Model Under the 4-Day Workweek with Weekday and Weekend Labour Demands , 1994 .

[20]  Jean-Charles Régin,et al.  A Filtering Algorithm for Global Sequencing Constraints , 1997, CP.

[21]  Michael W. Carter,et al.  Work Force Size and Single Shift Schedules with Variable Demands , 1985 .

[22]  Rudy Hung.  Multiple-shift workforce scheduling under the 3–4 workweek with different weekday and weekend labor requirements , 1994 .

[23]  B. M. Smith,et al.  Combining constraint satisfaction and local improvement algorithms to construct anaesthetists' rotas , 1992, Proceedings Eighth Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Applications.

[24]  Nelson Bennett Heller.  Proportional rotating schedules , 1969 .

[25]  Hoong Chuin Lau,et al.  COMBINATORIAL APPROACHES FOR HARD PROBLEMS IN MANPOWER SCHEDULING , 1996 .

[26]  Jean-Charles Régin,et al.  Generalized Arc Consistency for Global Cardinality Constraint , 1996, AAAI/IAAI, Vol. 1.

[27]  Peter J. Stuckey,et al.  Programming with Constraints: An Introduction , 1998 .

[28]  Hamilton Emmons.  Work-Force Scheduling with Cyclic Requirements and Constraints on Days Off, Weekends Off, and Work Stretch , 1985 .

[29]  James M. Tien,et al.  On Manpower Scheduling Algorithms , 1982 .