Siebel Field Service Guide > Setting Up and Using Scheduling >

Defining Cost Functions for the Optimizer

This task is a step in Process of Setting Up Scheduling.

The cost function is the sum of factors that drive the optimization of a schedule. For each activity in the schedule, the Optimizer minimizes the value of the cost function while optimizing the schedule. The cost function indirectly calculates the monetary cost of carrying out a schedule.

There is only one cost function for each service region. However, many service regions can use the same cost function. Cost functions are associated with service regions in the Administration - Scheduling screen > Service Region List view. See Defining Service Regions for more information.

To define cost functions

1. Navigate to the Administration - Scheduling screen > Cost Functions view.

   The Cost Functions view is used to define the function that the Optimizer uses for assessing the success of each iteration of a schedule.

2. Create a new record and complete the fields as appropriate.

   Some fields are described in the following table.

   Field	Comments
   Function Type	This drop-down list offers two options: Normal and Emergency. For Field Service scheduling purposes, select Normal.
   Function Area	This drop-down list offers three options: Field Service, Workforce Management, and Professional Services. For Field Service scheduling purposes, select Field Service.

3. Scroll down to the Details list.

   The Cost Function Details view defines each variable in a cost function.

4. Create a new record and complete the fields as appropriate.

   Some fields are described in the following table.

   Field	Comments
   Active	Select this check box to indicate that the variable is active.
   Variable	The variable to be used for the cost function. See Cost Function Variables for more information.
   Weight	The weighting value to be allocated to the cost function variable. For all weights in the cost function, start with values of one (which approximate the real cost of scheduling an activity), then change these values as needed.

To view the service regions associated with a cost function

1. Navigate to the Administration - Scheduling screen > Cost Functions view.
2. Select a record in the Cost Functions list.
3. Click the Service Regions view tab.

   The Service Regions view contains read-only records listing the service regions that use a selected cost function.

Cost Function Variables

The cost function is the sum of the factors shown in Table 30.

Table 30. Factors in the Optimizer Cost Function

Factor	Calculation of the Factor
Constraint Violation	S RuleViolationCost x Weight
	This is the sum of Rule Violation Costs for each soft constraint violated. A violation is proportional to the degree of the violation. The units for the amount of the violation are the same as defined for the constraint. Time units are in hours; all other cases use the activity.
FSE Overtime	FSEOTCost x (EndtimeoflastactivityinOT - Endofnormalshift) x Weight Where, FSEOTCost = (StdCost x StdOTpercent) + (StdCost x ExtOTpercent)
Tardiness	TardinessCost x Amountofdelay x Weight
Task Exclusion Penalty
	Task priority allows higher priority tasks to take precedence over low priority ones. This is important when there are not enough resources to schedule all activities. The Task Priority term uses the numeric value from the Order column in the Administration - Data screen > List of Values view (see Siebel Applications Administration Guide). This is the value that also appears in the Activities screen > More Info view, Priority field. Task Exclusion Penalty and Weight cannot be zero. If they are zero, no activities are scheduled.
Travel Distance	TravelDistance x TravelCost x Weight