Multicriteria Optimization
Fault-clearance and maintenance operations of energy supply networks are resource intensive tasks and represents a large part of the costs of a network operator.
Cost reductions can be found at different levels. For functional implementation of planned maintenance measures as well as fault processing, efficiency optimizations can be achieved. In particular optimizations through the reduction of auxiliary process time, e.g. drive time to and from sites, documentation time, or unnecessary drive time due to incorrect information or qualifications, increase efficiency.
In order to achieve these reductions in costs, systems to optimize drive time for fault-clearance and maintenance are often put in place. Due to the complexity of operational tasks, organizational constraints, and dependence on different tasks in topologically connected energy supply networks, a singular objective procedure is not practical.
Different operational goals need to be simultaneously accounted for as well as completing these goals according to their priority.
Operational goals (Z) can be:
Even and high utilization of staff (Z1)
Appropriate resource allocation (Z2)
Short drive times (Z3)
Summary of similar work in neighbouring locations (Z4)
Keeping appointments (Z5)
These goals can be further divided into specific optimization criteria, e.g.:
Even and high utilization of staff :
Minimizing of utilization differences (K1-1)
Maximizing utilization (K1-2)
Appropriate resource allocation:
Find the minimal qualification profile (K2-1)
Minimizing external work (K2-2)
Maximizing range of tasks (K2-3)
Not all optimization criteria can be simultaneously met and equally satisfied as they are sometimes in conflict and/or contradict each other. This issues is presented in the effect matrix (see picture).
The effect matrix can be taken as criteria are sensitive to each other and mutually strengthen each other, but could also compete with each other. When all optimization criteria are balanced according to their priority, the results can be used for operations.
Ignoring sensitive optimization criteria can lead to unusable results. The consequences are costly, manually intervening the coordination work and tasks, the unintentional increase of unproductive axillary process times through unneeded drive time or additional communication time for clarifying improbable situations.
Algorithms that do not address multiple optimization objectives can generate greater operational costs. These extra operational costs will be additionally amplified through an emotional rejection and frustration of the employee. Also, the human brain is not capable of making optimal decisions on the basis of more than five criteria. With admissible simplifications a person tries to reduce the complexity. With this, important and admissible decision alternatives are ignored and less than optimal results are accepted.
With PSIcommand, PSI offers an optimization feature engineered from Qualicision©. Qualicision© is a software option for multicriteria decision making and is able to optimize operational goals through intelligent information gathering, analysis of the output situation, and the comparison of goal and criteria conflicts.
Qualicision© is a highly efficient internal interface completly integrated in PSIcommand. With universal configuration capability, Qualicision© optimization does not require intensive programming. This saves implementation costs and allows low risk introduction into operations with multiple standard solutions.
Qualicision© is already successfully used within various industries and other areas. Experiences out of these uses lead to a running technology transfer which supports the optimization in workforce management and opens new possibilities for efficiency increases.
