Resource Cost Calculation in PSO

Hi.  I hope the following information helps.  Thanks!  Jane

Here are the answers to your three queries regarding Resource Cost Calculation in IFS PSO (Planning & Scheduling Optimization):

1. Resource Cost Calculation & Formula in PSO

In IFS PSO (Dynamic Scheduling Engine - DSE), Cost functions as a key optimization metric used to evaluate and score competing schedules. The total resource cost for a schedule is calculated by summing several cost components defined across the Resource, Resource Type, Shift, and Travel setup.

Formula Breakdown

$$\text{Total Resource Cost} = \text{Shift Fixed Cost} + \text{Normal Work Cost} + \text{Overtime Work Cost} + \text{Travel Distance Cost} + \text{Travel Time Cost}$$

Where:

• Shift Fixed Cost (shift_cost): A flat cost incurred simply by activating/utilizing a shift for a resource.

• Normal Work Cost: $\text{Normal Hours Spent} \times \text{Cost/Hr}$

• Overtime Work Cost: $\text{Overtime Hours Spent} \times \text{Cost/Hr (OT)}$

• Travel Distance Cost: $\text{Travel Distance (km/miles)} \times \text{Cost/km (or Cost/mile)}$

• Travel Time Cost: $\text{Travel Duration (hours)} \times \text{Applicable Hourly Rate (Normal or OT)}$

(Note: Additional penalty costs—such as out-of-region penalties, SLA breach costs, or availability window costs—may also apply depending on your scheduling dataset rules).

2. Where to View Resource Cost in PSO

• Base Values vs. Calculated Costs:

  • Base Values / Configured Rates: Inputs like Cost/Hr, Cost/Hr (OT), Cost/km, and Shift Cost are static setup values defined under Resource, Resource Type, or Shift Type definitions.

  • Calculated Costs for a Schedule: To view the actual evaluated cost resulting from PSO's schedule generation:

    1. PSO Workbench — Explanations / Score Breakdown Tab: Navigate to the Explanations tab or Score Breakdown view in PSO Workbench. This displays a line-item breakdown of the total schedule score and penalty/cost components per resource schedule (e.g., Travel Cost, Shift Cost, Overtime Cost).

    2. Schedule Details / Data Viewer Grids: In the plan tables or schedule views, view columns such as Shift Cost, Travel Cost, Overtime Cost, and Total Cost calculated for each shift.

    3. Plan Summary / Analytics Dashboard: Aggregates overall cost and resource utilization across the entire scheduling dataset.

3. Return Travel in Overtime: Cost/Hr vs. Cost/Hr(OT)

• Scenario:

  • Normal Shift: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  • Overtime Window: 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM

  • Task: 2 hours (completed by 4:30 PM)

  • Return Travel: 30 minutes (4:30 PM – 5:00 PM)

• Answer: PSO calculates the return travel using the Overtime rate (Cost/Hr (OT)).

• Reasoning:

  • PSO calculates costs dynamically based on the time interval during which the activity or travel actually occurs.

  • Because the return travel segment (4:30 PM – 5:00 PM) falls inside the Overtime Shift Window (4:30 PM – 8:30 PM), PSO applies the Overtime Hourly Rate (Cost/Hr (OT)) (along with any overtime travel multipliers) to that 30-minute travel window, even though the task itself was finished during normal shift hours.

Hi Jane.

Thank you so much for timely reply and explanation.

Could you please share some screen shot or the navigation to the screen for the Point#2 Where to View Resource Cost in PSO. I was checking in PSO Workbench but couldn’t find the screen where I can see the schedule cost.

Thanks a lot again.

Regards,

Hi.  I hope this information helps -

Although I cannot display static image files directly in this text interface, here is a text-based UI guide and exact navigation steps to locate the Schedule Cost and Resource Cost screens in both the PSO Workbench and IFS Cloud.

1. Where to View Schedule & Resource Cost in PSO Workbench

In PSO Workbench, the cost is evaluated by the Dynamic Scheduling Engine (DSE). Because the primary Gantt grid defaults to showing Base Value (priority score), cost breakdown metrics are located in dedicated panels and views:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | PSO Workbench Navigation Bar | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | [Menu] Workspaces > Scheduling Workspace > [ Analysis View ] | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Gantt Area / Resource List | | |-- Resource A [Shift Bar] ---> Right-click -> [ Open Resource Inspector ] | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | [ Bottom / Side Panel: Resource Inspector / KPI Summary ] | | * Worked Time Cost * Overtime (OT) Cost * Travel Cost * Total Shift Cost | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Method A: The Analysis View (Workspace Level)

1. In the main PSO Workbench menu, click Workspaces → Scheduling Workspace.

2. On the top view tab bar, switch from Resources / Activities to Analysis (or Analysis View).

3. In the Analysis dashboard:

   • Select the KPI / Cost Breakdown tab.

   • Here you will see a detailed grid and chart comparing Base Value, Travel Cost, Shift Cost, Overtime Cost, and Total Schedule Cost across datasets or selected shifts.

Method B: Resource Inspector Pane (Resource Shift Level)

1. On the main Gantt Chart / Resources view, locate the resource whose cost you want to inspect.

2. Right-click on the resource row header or specific Shift Bar and select Resource Details / Resource Inspector.

3. In the Inspector side pane that opens, click the KPI / Shift Summary tab.

4. Scroll to the Cost Metrics section:

   • Shift Base Cost

   • Travel Cost

   • Overtime Cost (Cost/Hr (OT))

   • Total Cost for Selected Shift

Method C: Plan Score Details (Header KPI Bar)

1. On the main header bar of the Gantt screen, click on the Plan Score summary value.

2. An overlay panel titled Score & Cost Breakdown will expand, showing how the total engine score for the current schedule is split between Achieved Base Value and Calculated Schedule Costs.

2. Where to View Resource Cost in IFS Cloud (Aurena Navigation)

If you are accessing PSO results directly within IFS Cloud:

Path 1: Scheduling Workbench (SWB)

Navigation: Service Management → Scheduling → Scheduling Workbench

1. Open your active Dataset.

2. Click the KPI / Plan Overview button on the top right toolbar.

3. Expand the Financial / Cost Breakdown tab to view the cost breakdown for the dataset.

Path 2: Scheduling Results & Analysis Page

Navigation: Service Management → Scheduling → Analysis → Scheduling Results

1. Search for your Dataset ID and Resource ID.

2. Look for the table columns:

   • Base Value

   • Travel Cost

   • Overtime Cost

   • Total Schedule Cost

(Note: If these columns are hidden, click the Column Selector / Table Settings gear icon and check Travel Cost, Overtime Cost, and Total Cost to display them in the grid).

Thanks!  Jane