A. Santini, C. Archetti, M. Mandal
We tackle the problems of workforce sizing and shift scheduling of a logistic operator delivering parcels in the last-mile segment of the supply chain. Two main trade-offs affect relevant decisions: workforce size and shift stability. A large workforce can deal with demand fluctuations but incurs higher fixed costs. A small workforce requires excessive outsourcing to third-party logistic providers. Stable shifts with predictable start times and lengths improve worker satisfaction and reduce turnover, but might be less able to adapt to an unsteady demand. We find that extreme shift stability is unsuitable for last-mile operations. However, introducing minimal flexibility achieves similar effects as moving to a completely flexible system while ensuring a better work-life balance for the workers. Our work shows that it is possible to offer better working conditions in terms of shift stability without sacrificing the company’s bottom line.
Keywords: combinatorial optimisation, logistics, last-mile delivery, scheduling, ethics of operational research
Scheduled
Heuristic Algorithms for Transportation Optimization
June 12, 2025 11:30 AM
Sala de prensa (MR 13)