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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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 Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject: work |
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| Hi,
My problem is this: At work we have 8 people and 4 work stations.Each station requires 2 people. I want to make up a work schedule that allows each person to work with each of the other 7 people and also work on each of the work stations at least one time. Is there a program or web site that would allow me to feed in the info and then give me the schedule that I need?
Jimmy
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 1629
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| The most efficient way is called, "Pencil & Paper".
Just draw up a work chart. You could even use a printed calendar, or print your own.
Cheers Mate!
Doc  |
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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| Pencil and paper? Think I remember those. Will give it a try. |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1464
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:03 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| The Franchise wrote: |
| Pencil and paper? Think I remember those. Will give it a try. |
Just remember to have lots and lots of paper. And maybe a gross of pencils. You will end up with a surprisingly large and complex schedule.
Ar what intervals do you envision rotating to new partners/workstations? |
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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:12 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Rotation could be every day ,every week,or every month. The main thing is to be fair.Hard to please everybody.Thought a pc program could do it but haven't found one yet.
Jimmy |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1464
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Well, I played aroung with Excel a bit and have a solution. It requires only 7 rotations to fulfill the requirements. Every person works with every other person once, and with every machine at least once; but does not work with every person on every machine.
This seems more like a fun puzzle than a real work place problem, however.
Nevertheless, I am a puzzle freak. The really interesting part of the problem, is coming up with an algorithm that will solve it for X people, and Y computers. In the process of solving this by "cut and try" I tried to see some logic, and was generally defeated. But, in true puzzle fashion, I will continue working on this.
I may start with a "brute force" algorithm, but that is kind of ininteresting. Much better to find a way to do it systematically. If such an algorithm exists, I am sure Excel Basic can handle it. |
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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Bern,
Well, I played aroung with Excel a bit and have a solution. It requires only 7 rotations to fulfill the requirements. Every person works with every other person once, and with every machine at least once
This seems to be what I need. I've wasted a lot of paper trying to figure how to place the different pairs without having the same pair on more than one station during a rotation. This is my boss's job but he's tired of people complaining .
Thanks for looking into it.
Jimmy |
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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Bern,
I have a schedule now. I won't please every person but each person works with each of the other 7 and on each of the work stations.By using the numbers 1-8 and setting up the pairs such as 1/2,1/3----2/4, 2/7 etc it worked out that if each time period contained 4 prs of numbers and if all of the numbers 1-8 were there all was ok.
Example:
WK 1
c/s 1. 7/8
c/s 2. 4/6
c/s 3. 3/5
c/s 4. 1/2
 Jimmy |
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tbernstein
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 1583
Location: London
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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If my maths is right you have 8x7x4 possible combination that have to be rotate through. i.e 224 different combinations of staff and station. Goodluck.
( A random weekly draw might be easier and just as fair). |
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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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I've gotten the schedule so each person works with every other person but after checking a few people don't work all of the stations.Someday I'll see the answer.Just glad that I'm not a supervisor.
Jimmy  |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1464
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| tbernstein wrote: |
If my maths is right you have 8x7x4 possible combination that have to be rotate through. i.e 224 different combinations of staff and station. Goodluck.
( A random weekly draw might be easier and just as fair). |
Actually, my first thought was that we need 8X7X6X5X4X3X2X1X4 different combinations, because that is how many there are, but the requirements are not that strict; for example, everybody does not have to share every workstation with everybody else.
So, the final schedule can be done in just 7 cycles. In that time, everybody works with everybody else, and while moving to another worker, also moves to another workstation. |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1464
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| The Franchise wrote: |
I've gotten the schedule so each person works with every other person but after checking a few people don't work all of the stations.Someday I'll see the answer.Just glad that I'm not a supervisor.
Jimmy |
Here is an answer. Instead of "room" substitute "workstation"
Rotation 1
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
....12...........34...........78.............56
Rotation2
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
...14 ...........72 ............58..........36
Rotation 3
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
....16............38..........52...........74
Rotation 4
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
....18............32...........54...........76
Rotation 5
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
....57............24...........68............13
Rotation 6
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
....26...........15...........37............48
Rotation 7
Room 1 Room2 Room3 Room4
....35...........46............17...........28 |
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tbernstein
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 1583
Location: London
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:28 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Quote
Actually, my first thought was that we need 8X7X6X5X4X3X2X1X4 different combinations,
I figured it as each of the 8, paired with each of the remaining 7, paired across each of the 4 work stations (8x7x4).
I still think a random draw is the best. Or maybe work out the rota and draw for the computer.
BTW, is this just a puzzle, or are these staff really that awkward to manage?
I'd be looking for a new job if I were you. Or a new boss for when thisone cracks up, 'cos if they are as difficult as that with work partners and computers managing their work must be Hell in a bucket.  |
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The Franchise
Joined: Oct 27, 2004
Posts: 460
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:44 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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We work at making plywood. but the problem is the same.And yes you couldn't please some of these folks unless you did the work for them.Always fussing about being "fair". I'll offer a solution to my boss and tell him that he's a boss not our friend.
Thanks for the help!
Jimmy  |
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