Penalty Factors

In defining penalties in the Penalties dialog box, it is instructive to think of cost when applying values to penalty factors, that is, which factor will provide the cheapest solution.

Table 1. Penalties Definitions
Penalty Definition
On Time Factor by which On Time penalty is multiplied. The factor reduces the On Time range across rosters.
Off Time Factor by which Off Time penalty is multiplied. Minimize the Off Time range across rosters.
Work Time Factor By which work time penalty is multiplied.
Line If selected, the system applies a flat penalty. If during an Improve, the system places more than one line on a roster, the penalty defined in this field is applied only if the Lines have not been grouped together into a set in the Optimize On frame.
Set (Line) Used in conjunction with the Line setting. Set refers to any set of line groups created in the Optimize On frame. If a penalty of 5 is placed here, the system applies a penalty of 5 each time a roster is created that includes more than one line if the lines are from the set you defined in the Optimize On frame.
Run Type If selected, the system applies a flat penalty to a Roster, which has more than one Runtype, if the Runtypes are not grouped together in the Optimize On frame and are therefore sets.
Set (Run Type) Used in conjunction with the runtype setting. Set refers to any run type grouped together in the Optimize On frame.
Average Platform Applies to Combines only. The factor by which the system multiplies the penalty per roster for every minute each differs from the Average of all Rosters combined. (1 minute in Avg. Platform time)
Pay Time (Improve) During the Improve process, the system attempts to equalize the pay time for each roster. The pay time penalty is multiplied by the minutes from the total pay time for each roster.
Run Number Applies when you have runs that have exceptions. The system matches the alternate run exception with the regular run and retains the run type of the exception.
Vary Line Penalty with Platform Frame Determines the range within which the line penalty is set.
Vary If selected, the system applies the appropriate penalty when a line is added to a roster. The penalty varies depending on the length of the platform. It is determined within the range of the Lower Threshold and Upper Threshold values.
Lower Threshold If the platform is within the lower threshold, then no penalty is applied.
Upper Threshold If the Platform is over the Upper Threshold, the full penalty is applied. The penalty is set to the line/set (line) option.
Combine Hard Rules Frame Determines rules for combining.
Enforce Rest Time If selected, the system does not combine work which has rest time violations.
Maximum On Time Range If selected, the system does not combine work if the On time range is greater than the specified value.
Maximum Off Time Range If selected, the system does not combine work if the Off Time range is greater than the specified value.
Minimum Uncombined Platform If selected, the system heavily penalizes solutions that leave uncombined weekday rosters with platforms that are less than the specified value; prefers to combine low platform work.
Create Off Day Rules for 2 7's Frame
Earliest Extra Run Time Sets the earliest run time of a run to be used when combining a two seven-day (2 7s) roster and an extra piece of work.
Latest Extra Run Time Sets the latest run time of a run to be used when combining a two seven-day (2 7s) roster and an extra piece of work.
Extra Run Work Time Determine how much time is created for an extra piece of work combined with a two seven-day (2 7s) Roster.
Improve Frame Creates rules for improving rosters.
Minimum Platform Applies to improves only. Factor by which this penalty is multiplied for each minute roster deviates from the minimum platform target.
Target Rosters are penalized for having less value defined in this field.
Maximum Platform Factor by which maximum platform penalty is multiplied. A high factor deters the system from creating platform time over the Max. Plat Time that has been set.
Target Rosters are penalized if their platform time exceeds the value in this field.
Max On Time Range Rosters are penalized for having a greater On Time range than the value placed in this field.
Heavily Illegal Penalty If selected, a large penalty is placed on any roster which is illegal. This is used to stop legal rosters from becoming illegal. It should only be used in the later stages of performing improves when there are no or few illegal rosters.
Protect On Time Range If selected, the largest On Time range before an improve remains the same or improve but not become larger.
Rest Time If selected, the Rest time is multiplied by the value (penalty factor) set in the field beside the check box.
Line Week Days Only If selected, the system checks for line penalties on weekdays only.