Resource allocation for group planning

The allocation of resources to planned groups and activity sets is the last step in the Group Planning process. Resources can be service engineers or service departments. The allocation of resources can be executed manually, semi-automatically, wherein, ( LN proposes the resource and the user selects the resource manually), or fully automatically. The allocation can be based on skills, and/or planning attributes.

To allocate resources automatically, the required skills and attributes from the Planning Group are matched with the available skills and attributes of the resources. The Service Planning parameters determine whether resource allocation is based on skills and/or attribute values. Use the Planning Attributes (tsspc0110m000) session to indicates if the attribute must be used for resource allocation.

Skills and attributes can be defined by service engineer and by service department. Service engineers can be allocated to planning groups with activity origin Service Order. Service departments can be allocated to planning groups with activity origin Work Order or Planned Activity. When, for a Planning Group, more than one resource is identified, the resources are prioritized based on Priority Rules ( For more information, refer to Priority Rule). The availability of the resource is also determined. The result of the group planning process, including the resource allocation, is saved in temporary tables, allowing the user to analyze and modify the result. LN allows you to allocate resources to a group, using various sessions, example, Groups for Service Orders - Resource Requirements (tsspc3604m000) session, Group - Proposed Resources (tsspc3104m000) session and so on. LN also allows you to allocate resources automatically.

When the Group Plan is released using the Release Plan (tsspc3240m000) session, the allocated resources are copied to:

  • Service engineer assignments, in case of service orders
  • Work order activities, in case of work orders (only one department).
  • Planned activities, in case of planned activities (only one department).

The resource allocation process comprises of the following steps:

  • Set up data
  • Propose resources based on attributes and/or skills
  • Optionally, check the availability of the resource
  • Sequence the resources based on priority
  • Select the resource(s) to be allocated to the Planning Group
  • Allocate the resources to the Planning Group
  • Release the Group Plan
Data set-up

The data set up for resource planning can be based on attribute values and skills.

Data set-up based on attribute values:

  • In the Planning Attributes (tsspc0110m000) session, Used for Resource Allocation check box to indicate that the attribute is used for resource allocation.
  • In Attribute Group - Preferred Resources (tsspc0120m100) session, a group of type Resource is added. LN adds the default set of attributes to this group. For this default set of attributes, the Any Value field is set to Yes. LN assigns the proposed resources to the group. This is the fall back mechanism.
  • To allocate resources manually, specific attributes value have to be configured and the Any Value check box must be cleared.
  • You can add, modify and or delete the attributes.
Note

LN allows you to add attributes that are not defined in the Planning Attributes.

  • In the Group - Resources (tsspc3102m000) session, add resources for the Attribute Group. When you add a resource that is already linked to an attribute group, LN generates a warning message.
Data set-up based on skills

Define skill of the type Service Department. When the available skills match with the skills required for the work order activities, or planned activities, resources are proposed during group planning.

Proposed resources

Use the Propose Resources for Planning Groups (tsspc3270m000) session to initiate the process of resource allocation for a range of planning groups. Resources are identified based on attributes and/or skills.

  • Allocate resources based on attribute values : You must allocate resources to Planning Groups generated as a result of Group Planning process. Resources are allocated only when the Check Resource check box is selected in the Group (Set) - Attribute Values (tsspc3101m000) session. LN searches attribute groups for the set of attributes / attribute values, taking into account the activity origin of the Planning Group. The number of proposed resources can be modified (conventionally, can be increased) by clearing the Check Resource check box for the attribute.
  • Allocate resources based on skills : For every skill, the resources can be accessed in the Service Department - Skills (tsmdm1130m000) session, or Service Employee - Skills (tsmdm1135m000) session, based on the activity origin of the Planning Group. When the activity origin is Service Order, the Service Employee - Skills (tsmdm1135m000) session is accessed. When the activity origin is Work Order, or Planned Activity, the Service Department - Skills (tsmdm1130m000) session is accessed. For service employees, the skill is effective when the effective date is equal to or before the planned start time, and the expiry date is on or after the planned finish time of the Planning Group. The Effective Date and the Expiry Date are defined in the Skills by Employee (tcppl0120m000) session. A resource can only be proposed for group planning when the resource has all the mandatory skills. The Match on Mandatory Skills check box in the Group - Proposed Resources (tsspc3104m000) is selected. When the resource has also all preferred skills, the Match on Preferred Skills check box is selected.
    • Note: When a group does not require skills and the Check Resources for Skills check box is selected, for a service order, work order or planned activities, LN displays all the resources on proposed resources for the group.
    • Note: When LN checks the resources availability for a group, the resources list includes attribute based match resources as well as matching skills resources.
  • Allocate Resources based on Attributes and Skills : In this scenario, resources are allocated based on attributes and on skills.
Resource selection

Use the Allocate Resource to Planning Group checkbox in the Group - Proposed Resources (tsspc3104m000) session to indicate that the resource is allocated to the Planning Group. For Planning Groups with activity origin Service Order, one or more resources can be selected. For Planning Groups with activity origin Work Order, or Planned Activity, only one resource can be selected. When the Automatically if only one found check box in the Service Planning Parameters (tsspc0100m000) session is selected, LN selects the Allocate Resource to Planning Group check box when only one resource is proposed.

When more than one resource is proposed, and the Automatically highest priority check box is selected, LN selects the Allocate Resource to Planning Group check box for the resource with the highest priority.

Allocate resources

Resource allocation can be executed in the following two ways:

  • Using the Allocate Resources to Planning Groups option on the References menu in the Group - Proposed Resources (tsspc3104m000) session, the resource is allocated to the Planning Group.
  • Using a batch session.
Merge/Split planning groups

When Planning Groups are merged, LN merges proposed and/or allocated resources. This is applicable only for Groups with activity origin Service Order. When Planning Groups are split, you must propose/allocate resources to the new group, that is created.

Release the plan

Use the Release Plan (tsspc3240m000) session to release the plan.

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