Scheduling Operations – OM in the News

Airlines Stuck on Runway with Pilot Shortages?

With demand for travel rebounding, pilot shortages have caused a host of flight cancellations in recent months. There is no easy solution in sight.

Some airlines in the United States are looking to hire pilots from other countries such as Australia, Canada, and many other global locations to fill the gap. Candidates from Australia are particularly attractive because of a “specialty occupation” U.S. visa that is fairly easy to get and can be renewed two years at a time as many […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2022-05-10T02:25:12+00:00May 9, 2022|Tags: aircraft, capacity planning, work force scheduling|

Are We Ready for the Four-Day Workweek?

For decades, the idea of a four-day workweek has gained and lost momentum several times. Because the pandemic has dramatically altered the way people work, proposals for a four-day workweek have reemerged. But doubts about its impact on productivity and its applicability to most professions remain. Would the new schedules boost or constrain operations?

Video Spotlight: Atlantic Staff Writer Makes the Case for a Four Day Work Week (June 21, 2021, CNBC Television)

This post is based […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2021-12-08T23:29:21+00:00December 10, 2021|Tags: productivity, short term capacity, strategic capacity management, work force scheduling|

Ford’s Build-to-Order Strategy

Almost every automobile manufacturer has been forced to shutdown production during the pandemic for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest problems has been caused by a chip shortage, as shared in the OM in the News post, Chip Shortage Puts the Brakes on Automakers.

Automakers are rethinking how they run their business. Most are looking at their supply chain, and ensuring the availability of parts. Many are looking at the future with electric vehicles (EVs), and designing […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2021-11-17T18:12:39+00:00November 18, 2021|Tags: build to order, build to stock, demand forecasts, forecasting, inventory, shortages|

Flight Attendants Rebel Against the Unfriendly Skies

Reports of passengers’ bad behavior on commercial flights have been all over the news.

This behavior has taken its toll on flight attendants. Already stressed by a myriad of challenges in the workplace, they have had to endure insults, aggressive behavior, and threats from passengers. The pandemic has upended their workload and schedules and made uncertainty a permanent work stressor, but their well-being is critical to the quality of air travel.

Video Spotlight: Reports of Unruly Passengers are […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2021-09-08T15:54:53+00:00September 16, 2021|Tags: aggregate planning, forecasting, service quality, work force scheduling|