Coping with complexity: The future of employee planning in air traffic

An air traffic environment is so mentally demanding and exhausting that for their own and passengers’ safety, air traffic controllers are required to retire at the age of just 56. Employee planning in the air traffic control sector is a truly challenging process. The increasing complexity of workforce management is driven by fluctuating traffic volumes, stringent labor regulations, and a significant shortage of skilled air traffic control officers (ATCOs). Traditional planning methods, like spreadsheets and basic computerized algorithms, are no longer fit for purpose.

DELMIA Software

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

ANSPs need advanced planning systems

To effectively perform and contribute to the dynamic development of aviation, air navigation service providers (ANSPs) need to adopt advanced planning systems that go beyond mere scheduling. These systems must be designed around key performance indicators (KPIs) and built to provide flexibility, scalability, and integration with other business functions.

The key to effective employee planning

The key to effective employee planning
The key to overcoming the complexities of workforce management lies in an integrated planning approach that addresses three distinct planning horizons:

Long-term strategic planning: This involves anticipating cyclical factors like seasonal traffic changes and special events. It also includes scenario management capabilities to prepare for unexpected changes such as new legislation or shifts in workforce demographics.

Medium-term tactical planning and rostering: This step goes beyond just allocating shifts by incorporating employee preferences, leave requests, and workload balancing. It aims to enhance employee satisfaction and minimize costly schedule updates.

Task-based operational planning: This focuses on real-time adjustments in response to daily changes like weather conditions or flight delays, ensuring allocation of the right resources to the right tasks.

Why traditional methods fall short

Conventional planning methods are proving increasingly ineffective in today’s technology-driven world of commercial aviation. The manual adjustment of schedules and reliance on static tools often lead to inefficiencies, mistakes, and errors. Automated solutions are also limited as they lack the nuance required for decision-making in a complex, real-world setting.

A truly effective planning solution should offer a balanced approach, combining automated optimization with decision support features. This enables managers to rework plans quickly and ensure alignment with overall enterprise goals, accommodating both regulatory requirements and individual employee needs.

Why digital planning systems drive a competitive edge

For the last couple of years, since automation and digitalization have significantly accelerated and become omnipresent across all sectors and industries, enterprises seek ways to fully capitalize on advanced technologies. The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, where precision immensely matters, needs cutting-edge workforce planning systems that help ensure personnel safety and satisfaction.

Advanced workforce planning systems provide several advantages, including:

Improved resource utilization: Advanced systems ensure optimal staff deployment, balancing workloads, and enhancing overall productivity.

Enhanced employee satisfaction: By integrating employee preferences and creating flexible schedules, organizations can improve retention and motivation among their ATCOs.

Seamless integration: Effective planning solutions seamlessly integrate with existing IT infrastructure, eliminating data silos and reducing administrative burdens.

Real-life impact

The success story of Germany’s Deutsche Flugsicherungs GmbH (DFS) illustrates the impact of adopting a state-of-the-art planning system. Facing challenges like a shortage of controllers and stringent regulations, DFS replaced its outdated system with a DELMIA solution. This new system improved personnel utilization, streamlined rostering, and enhanced real-time scheduling capabilities, leading to reduced stress in the workplace and better alignment with operational requirements.

Discover more

Download and read our strategic partner’s Dassault Systèmes’ whitepaper to learn more about advanced planning solutions that can transform your workforce management strategies. Gain insights into best practices, explore case studies, and discover how to leverage the latest DELMIA technology for optimal workforce planning.

Optimize your workforce planning and stay a step ahead

Discover how other A&D companies streamlined their operations using DELMIA solutions. Check out our extensive case study to read how Andea and one of the A&D industry leaders Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) partnered to create a Manufacturing Planning and Execution Platform to support its different processes and address diverse business needs.

Browse our website for more information on how DELMIA solutions can help you ensure personnel safety and satisfaction while staying at the forefront of innovation.

Want to ensure personnel safety and satisfaction? Talk to our industry experts! We've worked with many top A&D companies.

As a trusted Dassault Systèmes’ System & Consulting Integrator Partner and a Value Added Reseller for the DELMIA Apriso and Ortems solutions, Andea has an intimate knowledge and a proven track record of reselling, integrating and deploying planning and scheduling solutions in the A&D industry.

Reach out today to improve resource utilization!

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