Shift scheduling optimization: a real-life underground transportation example

Abstract

Personnel scheduling is basically a type of scheduling that determines which employee will work and when, taking into account the needs of the industry and employees. Personnel scheduling is intertwined with shift scheduling problems in shift systems. In many industries, the assignment of employees to shifts during the day, the determination of relief breaks and meal breaks are an important factor for shift scheduling while meeting the changing workforce needs. The main purpose of this study is to schedule the shifts of the machinists of Ankaray, which is one of the underground transportation networks of Ankara, the capital of Turkey, in the transportation sector where people serve people. In the study, shift scheduling models in the literature were examined and Aykin's optimal shift scheduling with multiple break windows was taken as a basis. The model divides the working hours into two shifts during the day and finds the number of employees required for each shift. In addition, it also determines the relief break and lunch break times for each employee. As a result, the current situation was analyzed and a comparison was made with the results on the established optimization model. Cost minimization is at the root of the problem, so it is concretely shown how this model will contribute in real life.