Workforce Prediction of Order Picking Personnel

Workforce management is a complex task consisting of multiple stages. The goal is to match workload with workforce, by consecutively predicting the workload, designing shifts, and scheduling the employees. At the distribution centres of Albert Heijn, the shifts are fixed, thus the workforce management process simply consist of determining the workload and assigning the employees to shifts. To fulfil the entire workforce requirements for the order picking tasks in the distribution centres, Albert Heijn employs some employees themselves. However, the largest part of the workforce is fulfilled by flex employees of contracted employment agencies. The aim of this research is to identify possibilities to improve the prediction accuracy of the required number of flex order picking employees. To do so, both the current prediction method is analysed for improvements, and four data mining models are tested.