Design of Software for Maintenance Workforce Scheduling (A Case Study of Afam Power Station, Nigeria)

Ikuobase Emovon, Macaulay Thomas Lilly, Stephen Ogajiye Tamuno-Ojuemi Ogaji

Mechanical Engineering Department, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria.
Mechanical Engineering Department, Rives state University of Science and Technology, PortHarcourt, Nigeria.
School of Engineering, Cranfied University, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom.

DOI: 10.4236/eng.2012.45031                

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the optimization of the workforce scheduling for solving maintenance problems. To achieve this aim an optimsation software for (5, 7) problem was developed. The programme was written in Quick Basic. The software was designed to produce a seven day schedule for organization operating a seven day week. Hence organization operating a five day schedule wishing to change to a seven day schedule we find this software very useful. The Quick-Basic computer programme was based on Alfares [1, 2] algorithm for solving (5,7) schedule problem. Data collected from Afam power station, Nigeria was used as input data. The test result shows the software is capable of determining workforce size and assigning workers to day-off pattern. The seven-day schedule produced savings of 11% maintenance labour cost when compared with the 5-day schedule currently being practiced by the Power station [3].

Keywords

Optimization; Workforce Scheduling; Software; Quickbasic

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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[2]	H. K. Alfares, “Efficient Optimization of Cyclic Labour Days-Off Scheduling,” OR Spectrum, Vol. 23, No. 2, 2001, pp. 283-294. doi:10.1007/PL00013353
[3]	H. K. Alfares, M. T. Lilly and I. Emovon, “Maintenance Staff Scheduling at Afam Power Station,” Industrial Engineering and Management System, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2007, pp. 22-27.
[4]	R. L. Fagbenle, “Prospects and Problems of Solarizing Transport Technology,” Nigerian Journal of Renewable Energy, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1991.
[5]	H. K. Alfares, “Flexible 4-Day Workweek Scheduling with Weekend Work Frequency Constraints,” Computer and Industrial Engineering, Vol. 44, No. 3, 2003, pp. 325-338. doi:10.1016/S0360-8352(02)00192-4
[6]	I. Emovon, “Optimization of Workforce Scheduling for Solving Maintenance Problem in a Power Station (A Case Study of Afam Thermal Power Station),” M.Tech. Thesis, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria, 2007.