We present TEMPLE, a domain specific language for modeling and solving staff scheduling problems. TEMPLE provides a set of intuitive abstractions and notations allowing to formulate the constraints of a particular problem in a very compact and natural way. After modeling a staff scheduling problem in TEMPLE, three generic local search algorithms can immediately be applied to the corresponding optimization problem. We show how real-life staff scheduling problems can be both effectively modeled as well as efficiently solved using our approach. Finally, we report on a practical application of TEMPLE in a commercial staff scheduling software.
In many professions daily demand for different shifts varies during the week. The rotating workforce scheduling problem deals with the creation of repeating schedules for such demand and is therefore of high practical relevance. This paper investigates solving this real-life problem with several new practically relevant features. This includes early recognition of certain infeasibility criteria, complex rest time constraints regarding weekly rest time, and optimization goals to deal with optimal assignments of free weekends. We introduce a state-of-the-art constraint model and evaluate it with different extensions. The evaluation shows that many real-life instances can be solved to optimality using a constraint solver. Our approach is under deployment in a state-of-the-art commercial solver for rotating workforce scheduling.
Designing shift plans represents a difficult but interesting task because they must satisfy various, often conflicting, requirements. In this article, we address a complex real-world break-scheduling problem for supervisory personnel and present a scheduling system that can help professional planners create high-quality shift plans. Supervisory personnel spend most of their workday in front of computer monitors, addressing critical and constantly changing situations. For employees working under such conditions to always maintain high levels of concentration, it's essential that they take occasional breaks. Usually, the amount of break time, as well as the position and duration of breaks within their work time (shift) are regulated by labor rules that must be satisfied by a feasible shift plan. Moreover, to guarantee effective supervision, a minimum number of employees must be working at any given time.
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