The software solution uses a wide selection of sophisticated optimisation solvers, including the Google Eureka Award winning Lazy Clause Generation solver. G12 is uniquely able to combine different solving techniques tailored to the context at hand, and significantly, without reducing the time it takes to arrive at an optimised scenario. It has been called the “optimiser of optimisers.”
Once a scenario is finalised, it can be driven by optimised workflows and personalised workspaces with critical path and activity monitoring offered by the iBPMS. This is generally presented with the preferred GIS mapping tool and interfaces with HR, business intelligence and detection systems as required.
The Logistics Router and Scheduling capability can optimise and schedule a fleet of delivery vehicles, over a dispersed region based upon the complex constraints of large fleets with many timetables, varied vehicle capacities (size and weight), real-time stop and start issues and roads restrictions.
Overseas transport adds another layer of complexity that the Opturion platform is geared to handle through the Procurement and Shipping Planner. The shipper inputs planning parameters and data. The software then returns an optimised plan meeting the constraints along the supply chain. The plan is computed to minimise costs, optimise timing and integrate overland and shipping arrangements. Changes can be made on the fly and outcomes compared when new events arise.
A range of other G12 solutions have been built on the iBPMS including:
- Asset lifecycle optimisation
- Event planning and timetabling and the
- Strategic project evaluator
The Opturion Optimisation Platform
The Opturion Platform is the result of some 60 person-years of research and development at National ICT Australia. The platform supports high-level problem modelling. Models are mapped onto a wide selection of sophisticated optimisation solvers, including the Google Eureka Award winning Lazy Clause Generation solver. The Opturion platform is unique in offering the ability to combine different solving techniques tailored to the application at hand. It has been called an “optimiser of optimisers”.
Features provided by the Opturion Platform include:
- High-level modelling
- Hybrid constraint solving
- Solutions are easy to maintain and modify
- Integrates the latest techniques from Operations Research and Artificial Intelligence
- Handles large scale complex optimisation problems
- Easily controlled mapping of models to hybrid algorithms
- Allows rapid exploration of radically different solution approaches
Asset Lifecycle Optimiser
Minimising the cost of ownership, summed over the complete lifecycle of an asset, is achieved by performing the necessary servicing (maintenance or refurbishment) in good time — but not unnecessarily often — and planning for replacement, tailoring the service schedule to the replacement date. However, the ideal servicing and replacement policy for each individual asset often conflicts with the client organisation’s budget constraints, and other client-specific constraints. The Opturion optimiser minimises the cost of ownership of all the assets in an organisation.
Event Planning and Timeabling
Event planning requires the allocation of people and resources to events within a limited period of time to meet the requirements and constraints of the event, and its location, or locations. Timetabling — the allocation of tasks or events and people to locations and time slots — is just one aspect of event planning. Other requirements include minimising people’s travel distances and waiting times, sharing facilities equitably between participants, and meeting event-specific constraints on people, dates and resources. The Opturion event planner is interactive, enabling permitted users to change features of the schedule and run the scheduler again so as to obtain a feasible schedule that satisfies the users’ new requirements.
Logistics Router and Scheduler
Opturion’s router and scheduler enables companies to transport freight with maximum efficiency while minimising cost and environmental impact. The software can schedule a fleet of delivery vehicles, picking up and delivering goods at sites distributed over a city or a region. The constraints on such a schedule are often complex and varied. The capacity of the vehicle may be based on physical size, or on the weight of the load. Pickups from a single site may all need to be coordinated, some vehicles may be restricted in the roads they can use, drivers need breaks, and so on.
Procurement and Shipping Planner
Many companies must plan the procurement and transport of products and raw materials on a regular basis. The choice of suppliers, and quantities ordered from each supplier, must take into account cost, demand quantities and dates, storage cost and capacity, shipping availability, time and cost, and risk. Opturion’s planner enables the company to input planning data, and returns a plan meeting the constraints on the supply chain. The plan is computed using optimisation techniques to minimise the company’s costs, whilst respecting these constraints.
Strategic Project Evaluator
From a set of strategic decisions, Opturion’s project evaluator generates a complete project schedule that maximises the net present value of the project as a whole. This schedule may be constrained by budgets and other client-specific constraints on the tasks. Moreover the optimal schedule may be constrained by a variety of factors including risk due to uncertain task starting dates and durations, and the cost of borrowing.
Rostering Platform
Opturion’s rostering platform provides a highly flexible, easy-to-use interface for shift rostering. Its extraordinary flexibility in handling complex constraints on working hours, time off, fairness and fatigue rules is due to the world-leading Opturion optimisation platform on which it is built. The rostering solution allows personnel to enter their requirements and preferences, and supports the administrator in finding feasible rosters deciding which requests can be satisfied and which cannot, in re-rostering with minimal disruption, and in exploring alternative scenarios.