Defining Constraints
The Constraints tab allows you to define constraints and set the technician skill level preference, additional technician parameters, and distance provider for Schedule Optimization when dispatching work orders.
To define constraints in the dispatch process:
1. Click the Constraints tab. The Constraints screen is displayed.
2. Enter the details to define constraints as explained in the following table.
Field | Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specify the skill level preference of technicians to be matched with the required skill level on the work order | |||||
Skill Level Preference | Select one of the skill level preferences for the dispatch process: • No preference: Select this option if you do not want to specify any skill level preference.
• Prefer technicians with a higher skill level: Select this option to favor technicians with higher skill levels. For example, select this option to assign the most experienced technicians for complex work orders. • Prefer technicians with lower skill level: Select this option to favor technicians with appropriate skill levels. For example, select this option to assign technicians with appropriate skill levels for simpler work orders. This reduces organizational costs. For more information, see Skill Level Preference.
| ||||
Specify additional Technician parameters to be considered by Schedule Optimization | |||||
Specify Overtime Tolerance | The time duration (in minutes) considered for overtime. | ||||
Before the shift begins, technicians should drive on their own time for up to (Minutes) | The time duration (in minutes) when technicians drive on their own time before the shift begins. This drive time is outside of the technician's working hours. | ||||
After the shift ends, technicians should drive on their own time for up to (Minutes) | The time duration (in minutes) when technicians drive on their own time after the shift ends. This drive time is outside of the technician's working hours. | ||||
Specify how OptiMax should calculate time and distance between locations | |||||
Time and distance provider | Select one of the distance provider preferences for the dispatch process: • Heuristic - This option is selected by default and uses heuristic (haversine) distances for travel time calculations. This option is often used for testing purposes. • Map Provider (Recommended) - Select this option to use an external Map Provider for calculating distances and drive times between locations. • Local DB - Select this option to use distance and travel times that come from a proprietary source (For example, a GIS system) in advance. This option can be used, for example, in the case of private roads for which a standard map provider does not return realistic distances and travel times.
| ||||
