The Resource Optimiser Tool enables the forward forecasting of labour requirements for all functions within Warehouse and Distribution Centre (DC) operations. The tool also includes a labour management module to measure actual requirements against forecasts to continually improve labour forecasting and planning.
- Establishes a framework within which management operates and allows evaluation of the progress against plan.
- Several weeks/months of staffing requirements can be forecast to gauge seasonal or other expected impacts to the operation.
- Co-ordinates all shifts and sections to work to a single overall operational plan and parcels it out by shift.
- Re-aligns the plan based on actual information encompassing planned and unexpected impacts.
- Weekly plans are distributed to management 6 to 9 days in advance for all to review and for managers to identify shortfalls and excess resource for re-allocation.
- Managers and supervisors are responsible for reconciling volumes and hours used to the plan – accountability.
- Managers formulate work strategies together to meet weekly throughput goals within the framework created by the plan.
1. Recruitment Forecast module – This enables the forward calculation of recruitment requirement taking into account operational volume forecasts, performance data, headcount split (Full Time / Part Time / Temp) and can allow for trending of key elements as well as manual intervention to produce a 12-month rolling forecast including volume variation contingency
2. Labour Management Module – This is the nucleus of the toolset encompassing a detailed operational plan. The tool is a dynamic planning tool which updates based on real-time information to provide a full operational plan by day / shift / function / operating section outputting real-time status information and daily operational reporting. The labour tool allows for real-time balancing of labour and activity within the DC. A basic description of how the modules fit together to provide an overall operational management opportunity is described below.
- Tactical – High level forward forecasting of labour requirements and recruitment needs up to 12 months in advance on a rolling 12-month basis.
- Operational – Detailed weekly plan to enable the planning/management and reporting of all labour hours used within the DC operations.
