Tugboat's employee scheduling software manages the multiple tasks associated with managing workforce schedules down to the specific job level that best serves manufacturer's production requirements. It easily accommodates last minute changes and is ideal for a variety of manufacturing operations where:

• Employees have multiple skills
• The labor force is represented by a union contract
• Job assignments are determined by overlapping or complex rules governing:
  • Seniority
  • Overtime allocation
  • Credits
  • Vacation and time-off requests
  • Training requirements or skills currency
  • Preferences for jobs and shifts
  • Any related variable production conditions

Rules Engine for Shift Scheduling

The power and speed within Scheduling Optimization Software (SOS) come from its rules-based engine. Tailored to conform to the work rules and shift scheduling policies that are unique to each plant or facility, the rules-engine applies criteria based on the priorities you assign such as:

• Filling the maximum number of jobs first
• Then using seniority, followed by employee preferences to work through conflicting job assignments

The shift scheduling software automatically tracks employee qualifications, job and shift preferences, training history and currency, and absentees. The rules-engine then automatically generates the shift schedule, enforcing the policies and work rules that you proscribed, down to the very last job assignment on the schedule.

Work Rules Analysis for Shift Scheduling

The process of implementing SOS (Schedule Optimizing Software) begins with a thorough analysis of the work rules, policies and practices that are in place in your facility and either determine or affect workforce scheduling. Through an iterative process of discovery and refinement, the final result is a document that becomes the specification for customizing the rules engine in SOS. This all important first step shortens implementation time, reduces implementation cost, and improves client-side expertise. For each customer, it is the foundation on which SOS stands and is essential to both successful implementation of shift scheduling software and a rapid Return on Investment.

Optimization through Shift Scheduling Software

SOS uses a proprietary "math engine" that optimizes the assignment of employees according to your business objectives and policies. In meeting the manning or staffing requirements for the facility, SOS fills the largest possible number of jobs, with properly skilled workers in accordance to these policies. While matching job assignments to labor demand according to complex rules, SOS does more than does scheduling shifts. Optimization allows you to achieve objectives that are based entirely on policy or are a shared demand from the workforce. Such as:

• Awarding time off.
• Distributing overtime based on either seniority or juniority.
• Assigning jobs with early start times.
• Assigning jobs based on preferences.

This optimization capability of Tugboat's shift scheduling software is unique in the field of workforce scheduling. Further, optimization generates one of the most significant benefits that SOS provides; the elimination of unnecessary overtime, along with improved worker satisfaction based on fair and consistent treatment within the framework of your shift scheduling policies.

Shift Scheduling as a Service

Facilities use SOS as a resource for both planning and management. By automating and speeding up the process of creating and revising schedules, shift scheduling software enables plant managers and production planners to:

• Consolidate diverse scheduling operations into a single resource.
• Make last-minute changes to schedules.
• Evaluate the cost effectiveness of a schedule.
• Explore alternative scheduling scenarios.
• Recover quickly from equipment failure or production down time.

Further, shift scheduling software reduces the workload for Human Resources departments and enables them to move onto new issues and services by reducing the pressure to accommodate employee requests for:

• Overtime.
• Training.
• Vacations.
• All other requests for time off.
• Absences.
• Preferences for jobs and shifts.

Most importantly, SOS is known to improve employee satisfaction:

• Makes the entire employee scheduling process consistent, objective and fair.
• Simplifies the process of requesting time off and overtime.
• Eliminates grievances due to shift scheduling.
• Provides all employees the same equal access to desired resources such as overtime or time off.
• Eliminates the favoritism and arm-twisting that often goes on with workforce scheduling.
• Puts every worker on a level playing field as they seek time off or overtime.