The AHP: A multicriteria decision making methodology for shiftwork prioritizing

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to show that the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a very powerful methodology for designing shiftwork schedules. Manufacturing, mining and other large industrial operations often run around the clock and their employees report for work in shifts. The huge number of variables and the amount of knowledge that needs to be structured, integrated and synthesized forces the need for a system analysis process that is able to deal with such complexity.

Work flexibility is a very important issue in Chile and in the rest of the world. One of the main problems of a flexible work process is handling shiftwork systems with their economic, health, social, family and environmental consequences.

Keywords

Shiftwork / scheduling shifts / AHP / integration / multidisciplinary group decision making

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