Train maintenance personnel shift scheduling: case study

Flex Serv Manuf J. 2023 Apr 28:1-34. doi: 10.1007/s10696-023-09495-w. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

In this study, the shift scheduling problem of the personnel who maintain the 324 trains operating on the lines of the Ankara Metro, which carry approximately 10 million passengers per month, is discussed. In the problem, daily personnel needs and personnel qualifications are evaluated together according to the fault prediction. Firstly, a total of 1721 fault data for 181 days is analyzed, and the prediction is made according to 8 prediction methods. Then, a 30-day fault prediction is made with the prediction method, which has the least error rate. According to the number of faults obtained as a result of the prediction, the daily personnel requirement is determined. Then, according to the type of fault, the personnel are classified as electronics, electromechanics, and mechanics. It is aimed at distributing the personnel evenly to the shifts. The goal programming model is used to solve the problem, allowing us to add more than one goal to the model. When the solution results of the problem are compared with the current schedule, it is seen that the monthly total working hours are distributed equally, and the shifts are distributed fairly, and a necessary balance is achieved in the shifts according to the personnel qualifications. It is thought that this study, in which personnel qualifications and fault prediction are evaluated together, will contribute to the literature on railway maintenance personnel scheduling.

Keywords: Fault prediction; Goal programming; Personnel scheduling; Railway; Train maintenance.