|
Siebel Field Service Guide > Scheduling Using Siebel Scheduler >
Defining Cost Functions for the Optimizer
The cost function is the sum of variables 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 completing the activities in a schedule. Each service region has only 1 cost function. However, many service regions can use the same cost function. You associate cost functions with service regions in the Service Region List view of the Administration - Scheduling screen. For more information, see Defining Service Regions. The Cost Functions view includes the function that the Optimizer uses for assessing the success of each iteration of a schedule. The Cost Function Details view includes each variable in a cost function. This task is a step in Process of Administering Schedules Using Siebel Scheduler. To define a cost function for the Optimizer
- Navigate to the Administration - Scheduling screen, then the Cost Functions view.
- Create a new cost function record, and complete the fields as appropriate.
Some fields are described in the following table.
|
|
Function Type |
Select a function type. Values include Normal and Emergency. For Siebel Field Service scheduling purposes, select Normal. |
Function Area |
Select a function area. Values include Field Service, Workforce Management, and Professional Services. For Siebel Field Service scheduling purposes, select Field Service. |
- Scroll down to the Details list.
- Create a new detail record, and complete the fields as appropriate.
Some fields are described in the following table.
|
|
Active |
Select this check box to indicate the variable is active. |
Variable |
Select the variable to use for the cost function. For more information, see Variables for Cost Functions. |
Weight |
Type the weighting value to allocate to the cost function variable. For all weights in the cost function, start with a value of 1. (This value approximates the real cost of scheduling an activity.) Then change the values as needed. |
- To view the service regions that are associated with the cost function, click the Service Regions view tab.
Variables for Cost Functions
Table 12 describes the variables for the cost function.
Table 12. Variables in the Cost Function for the Optimizer
|
Calculation of the Variable |
Constraint Violation |
S RuleViolationCost x Weight This calculation includes the sum of Rule Violation Costs for each violated soft constraint. A violation is proportional to the degree of the violation. The units for the amount of the violation are the same as the defined units for the constraint. Time units are in hours. All other cases use the activity. |
FSE Overtime |
FSEOTCost x (EndtimeoflastactivityinOT - Endofnormalshift) x Weight where: FSEOTCost is (StdCost x StdOTpercent) + (StdCost x ExtOTpercent). |
Tardiness |
TardinessCost x Amountofdelay x Weight |
Task Exclusion Penalty |
TaskExclusionPenalty x (1/TaskPriority) x Weight Task priority allows high priority tasks to take precedence over low priority tasks. Task priority is important when there are not enough resources to schedule all activities. The task priority term uses the numeric value from the Order field in the List of Values view of the Administration - Data screen. This value also appears in the Priority field in the More Info view of the Activities screen. For more information, see Siebel Applications Administration Guide. Task Exclusion Penalty and Weight cannot be zero. If they are zero, then no activities are scheduled. |
Travel Distance |
TravelDistance x TravelCost x Weight |
|
