Auto Schedule
Updated
by
Daniel Sjögren
You can run Auto schedule algorithms for up to 16 weeks when triggered from the Quinyx UI.
Introduction
Quinyx Labor Optimization solution consists of two separate modules, Auto Schedule and Auto Assign. The goal of the solution is to automatically create schedules, considering your business objectives and aiming to minimize under-coverage and over-coverage while adhering to labor rules and organizational preferences.
Auto Schedule
The Auto Schedule module automates and optimizes the creation of open shifts within the scheduling process. The algorithm takes the required headcount created externally or by the Quinyx Labor Standard Calculation and creates shifts to achieve the best coverage given the minimum and maximum requirements, shifts rules, break rules and parameters defined in Pythia (AI Optimization). The output of the Auto Schedule algorithm is open shifts that can either be assigned manually, through shift picking, or by using the Auto Assign module.
Prerequisites
- There need to be headcount requirements available for the period during which you are attempting to create schedules.
- There need to be employees available and with a matching skillset required to work the shifts to be created.
- Shift rules and break rules are defined in Pythia (AI Optimization).
- Schedule parameters are defined in Pythia (AI Optimization).
- The Auto Schedule module needs to be enabled and configured by Quinyx.
Auto Schedule configuration
The Auto Schedule module considers the minimum and maximum requirements, shift rules, break rules, and parameters defined in Pythia (AI Optimization) to create open shifts.
Minimum and Maximum requirements
Through Minimum and Maximum Requirements you are able to constrain the number of shifts the Auto Schedule solution can create. Minimum requirements ensure that the Auto Schedule algorithm fulfills the minimum requirement when creating the schedules, no matter what the demand forecast states. Maximum requirements ensure that no more than a certain number of headcount are scheduled at each point in time. This is helpful during periods of labor shortage.
When requirements are set outside opening hours (that is, without any forecasts) the requirements will still be considered when creating shifts. In case of minimum requirements, multiple shifts can be scheduled to cover the minimum demand.
Shift rules
Through shift rules, you are able to control the type of shifts that the Auto Schedule is allowed to create. The shift rules are often based on labor rules and include considerations such as minimum shift length, maximum shift length, and the earliest start time and latest end time of shifts. Different rules can be set up for different units and roles to account for regional and agreement differences.
The Auto Schedule will create shifts that comply with the shift rules configured while optimizing the shift length to cover the demand curve. For example, shorter shifts might be created to cover peak times.
Break rules
Through break rules, you are able to ensure that breaks are scheduled according to labor laws depending on the type of shift and shift length. This includes considerations such as minimum shift length before the specific break is applied as well as break-specific rules such as break length, where the break is allowed to fall relative to the shift or time of day, and time between breaks in case multiple breaks should be scheduled.
The Auto Schedule will create shifts including breaks that comply with the break rules configured while optimizing on break placement to cover the demand curve. For example, breaks might be planned outside of peak times where less labor demand is needed.
Parameter Configuration
Through the parameter configuration, you are able to define your business objectives related to the creation of shifts. You are for example able to configure whether you aim to cover demand as best as possible at all times or whether shorter peaks in demand can remain uncovered in order to save costs. The parameters are configured by Quinyx, depending on your objectives, during the initial set-up of the Auto Schedule solution.
Auto Schedule creation
Read more about how to trigger Auto Schedule and follow-up on the progress of the algorithm runs here.
