Shift and OR Planning Under Control
Project Duration: 01.01.2025 – 31.12.2027 | Project Partners: Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics (fml) at TU Munich, Klinikum Rechts der Isar of TU Munich, MITI Research Group at TUM, Emporias Management Consulting, proband15 | Funder: Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Objectives
In the FAIRPLAN research project, an AI-based planning solution is being developed to make shift and OR schedules in hospitals fairer and more efficient. The aim is to give greater consideration to individual employee preferences, to specifically improve resource utilisation in the surgical operating theatre, and thereby sustainably enhance working conditions for medical professionals.
Results
The FAIRPLAN system uses artificial intelligence to combine historical shift data, employee availability and economic framework conditions. The AI analyses attendance histories, preferences and performance profiles to create optimal shift schedules. The needs of employees are at the centre – the system takes personal preferences into account, enables flexible shift management and ensures a transparent, fair distribution of working hours.
In addition, the utilisation of operating theatres is optimised: unproductive idle times are reduced, bottlenecks are identified early and resources are distributed according to need. This creates a data-driven planning tool that strengthens both employee satisfaction and economic efficiency in equal measure.
Industrial Benefits
The FAIRPLAN system addresses a central pain point in the healthcare sector: the shortage of skilled workers and the associated overload caused by rigid shift planning. By using AI-supported planning, hospital operators can organise themselves much more flexibly and economically – without compromising on employee satisfaction.
The automation of shift planning significantly reduces administrative effort and enables nursing staff and medical teams to focus more on their core tasks. In the long term, FAIRPLAN creates the basis for scalable, AI-controlled personnel management solutions that can be applied beyond the hospital environment in further areas of the healthcare and service economy.
Significance
FAIRPLAN is a prime example of the mission of software4production: to make the use of artificial intelligence in industrial and operational planning systems practically usable. The project demonstrates how data, machine learning and process-oriented software solutions interlock to intelligently solve complex operational challenges.
Together with S4P as a project partner in FAIRPLAN, we are developing expertise in AI-based planning and data processing that also flows into other S4P products and services – in particular in the areas of MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) and WMS (Warehouse Management Systems). The project thus strengthens S4P's position as a pioneer of AI-supported enterprise software.
Publications
Publications related to this project can be found under Publications.
Are you interested in AI-based planning? Contact us – we will discuss together how FAIRPLAN can optimise your service or manufacturing company.