Quintiq, a global leader in supply chain planning and optimisation (SCP&O) has announced that the Swiss air navigation service provider (ANSP) skyguide will be using its workforce planning system to schedule air traffic control officers (ATCOs) and air navigation service employees (ANSE).

Called ‘BIOMAN’ (Business-Integrated Optimisation of Manpower) by skyguide, Quintiq’s platform is configured for the needs of ANSPs to help cost-effectively manage airspace and avoid service-level related financial sanctions from regulatory bodies.

skyguide has autonomy over Switzerland’s airspace, controlling commercial and military traffic. One complex challenge facing ANSPs is ATCOs with the right skill level. Quintiq’s platform will assess the resources skyguide has at its disposal and roster staff accordingly. It will also help skyguide build the necessary plans for staff recruitment and training, and allocate ATCOs the right number of hours as agreed in their collective labor agreements while taking into account fatigue management safety restrictions.

“We are experiencing decreasing flight traffic and needed to make more efficient use of our assets. The BIOMAN project will provide us with a comprehensive means of planning our resources and staff better,” said Klaus Affholderbach, deputy COO of skyguide.

“We are delighted Quintiq’s platform will be operational at the agreed time and within budget. We look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring.”

Quintiq COO Arjen Heeres said: “Completing the BIOMAN project is a significant milestone in our partnership with skyguide.

“skyguide is one of Europe’s leading ANSPs and we take pride in having put our industry expertise towards delivering an asset, which will optimise its ATCO scheduling and ensure safe, cost-efficient operations.”

For more information, please contact Quintiq.