Table of Contents
Constraint Technologies (CTI) offers a benchmarking service for customers in the transport sector. The basic service is free-of-charge, with additional services available by negotiation.
CTI take customer data and create pairings and rosters based on current operating preferences. These can be compared with the current pairings and rosters (be they manual or computerized). CTI use their own analysis tool to identify and quantify differences.
Potential benefits include:
Clarification of rules and operating procedures (i.e. are the rules being applied correctly in the current pairing and roster building)
Reduction in manpower
Fairer allocation
Reduction in overtime costs
Reduction in non-productive time.
In order to carry out a benchmarking exercise, CTI requires access to information and customer representatives to obtain and confirm data such as:
Crew (e.g. qualifications, etc)
Rules (statutory and company)
Pay and allowances
Network
Timetable
Fleet
Operating preferences
Rostering procedures
Previous pairings and rosters
The assumption is that data above is in machine readable form.
The standard procedure is:
Gather basic information
Convert to standard CTI format
Clarify any omissions or inconsistencies
Agree terms of reference
Ascertain customer objectives and preferences
Analyse previous pairings and rosters
Clarify any inconsistencies between:
Basic information (eg rules)
Previous rosters and pairings
Customer objectives and preferences
Create pairings and rosters
Analyses differences
Present to customer
Refine based on feedback
Deliver final results
Analysis of the results is achieved through the use of our Java based Analysis Tool called TPAC WorkBench which analyzes and compares pairings and rosters. We use this tool for analysing existing pairings and rosters, and comparing these against the new pairings and rosters. Further information can be found in Appendix 2.
The key benefits of doing a benchmark are:
Clarification of rules and confirmation – or otherwise – that rules are being correctly applied. Over time it is common for custom and practice to become confused with rules, resulting in pairings and rosters that are more expensive to operate than they need to be.
Reduction in manpower. The pairing optimizer identifies the minimum staff levels for any schedule. This is potentially an area for significant savings.. Compared to manual pairings, CTI has identified savings in excess of 10% for some customers.
Better allocation of tasks. There is the potential to achieve the desired result at minimum cost. In both cases the optimizer minimizes overtime
The standard, free-of-charge, package includes:
Analysis report on current pairings and rosters
Set of new pairings and rosters for a period of 1 month
Analysis report on difference
Report on potential benefits
Features include:
Comprehensive reporting on major KPI's for any given pairing and rostering solution (generated by TPAC pairing and rostering or any 3rd parties solutions) including productivity of each crew by type and base
The ability to load two scenarios at the same time for side by side comparison. TPAC WorkBench supports dynamic KPI definition and charting so KPI comparison charts can be customized to focus on each customers key drivers. By loading and visually comparing multiple solutions planning staff can quickly identify differences and advantages.
Multiple "what if?" scenarios can be loaded into TPAC WorkBench to enable planners and management to quickly understand the full effects on pairing and rostering solutions of potential rule changes, basing policies or new government restrictions.
Visual displays of pairing and rostering solutions for in-depth analysis
Validation of staff information, attributes and basing.
Further Information
You may wish to look at the PDF version of this document.