Understanding Schedule Efficiency
Schedule efficiency measures how well workforce schedules match demand. Having goals, regularly gauging the metric and taking action is key to minimizing staffing gaps and optimizing resource use.
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Schedule Efficiency is a metric that measures how effectively workforce schedules align with expected demand. High schedule efficiency indicates minimal overstaffing or understaffing, ensuring optimal resource use and service delivery.
The calculation involves determining the absolute difference between demand requirements and scheduled staff at the interval level. These absolute deviations are summed and divided by the total demand requirement, yielding the inefficiency percentage. Subtracting this from 100% provides the schedule efficiency percentage. Typically, this calculation uses net requirements compared to net schedules and evaluates a full week of data. Detailed analysis at both daily and interval levels is critical for actionable insights.
A common benchmark for schedule efficiency is 95%, with anything below 85% generally considered poor. Efficiency levels depend on factors like schedule flexibility, workforce size, hours of operation, and the complexity of demand patterns. Regular adjustments to schedules are essential, as efficiency naturally declines if they fail to account for changes in demand. Indexed variations can adjust for overall overstaffing or understaffing, providing an alternative metric.
Most Workforce Management (WFM) systems calculate schedule efficiency automatically when generating schedules. However, it’s important to regularly review this metric using live production schedules. Establishing clear thresholds and targets can signal when schedule changes are necessary. The metric is key to illustrate before and after scenarios, highlighting improvements achieved. Additionally, tracking schedule efficiency offers insights beyond service level, wait time, and occupancy projections, highlighting the broader impact of scheduling decisions,
