Per Minute Cost Calculators

Delayed Start Cost for Resource

Apply this cost to help when resources have gaps between scheduled work. The Delayed Start Cost per Minute setting applies a cost for each minute between the relative "now" time of a Resource to the earliest start time of Jobs in Mendel's calculation. Mendel adds the result to the overall score for a Job, which means Mendel is less likely to create schedules with gaps of time between Jobs and Mendel is also more likely to schedule Jobs across multiple Resources instead of scheduling multiple Jobs to a single Resource.

Only configure the Delayed Start Cost per Minute setting if there are a mixture of Jobs with appointment and due dates. If there are only Jobs with appointments in the system, then every Job has a delayed start and there's no logic in configuring the setting.

If a Resource is appointed a Job scheduled for 4pm and they have free time in the diary before that appointment, then perhaps that Resource could complete a due date Job before the appointed Job at 4pm. However, because appointments are more important than due dates, that Resource moves forward in time in the diary and they're unable to do the due date Job. The Delayed Start setting adds a cost per minute of wasted time. If you can start that due date Job now then it’s better than a delayed start.

Importance of Appointed Job / Importance of Non-Appointed Job

The Importance of Appointed Job and Importance of Non-Appointed Job settings define the cost per minute for appointed and non-appointed Jobs. Mendel then adds the result to the overall score for a Job, which means Mendel is more likely to schedule appointed or due date Jobs with shorter target windows. Jobs with a shorter target window are considered more important.

Only configure the Importance of Appointed Job setting if you think non appointed work is being favoured for scheduling. Likewise, only configure the Importance of Non-Appointed Job setting if you think appointed work is being favoured for scheduling.

Mandatory Time

Used with appointment slot templates, this cost is applied for each available minute between the scheduled start of the Job and the start of the next mandatory time restriction.

Time to Earliest Start for Job

Apply this cost to prefer scheduling of the Jobs expected to start soonest. May help when Jobs cluster round a few resources when other resources could be used. The Time to Earliest Start Cost per Minute setting applies a cost for each minute between the actual "now" or current time to the earliest possible start time of Jobs in Mendel's calculation. Mendel adds the result to the overall score for a Job, which means Mendel is more likely to schedule Jobs with a closer start time to the "now" or current time and Mendel is also more likely to schedule Jobs across multiple Resources instead of scheduling multiple Jobs to a single Resource. In a nutshell, the Time to Earliest Start Cost per Minute setting helps to spread work between Resources.

Scenario

There are 3 Resources in the system and Jobs have started to be allocated out. Every time a Job is allocated to a Resource, that Resource moves forward in time in the diary. Resource 1 is located where all the Jobs are and Resources 2 and 3 are located further away from the Job locations. Since Resource 1 is located where all the Jobs are, Mendel gives them the Job, furthermore Resource 1 moves forward in time and looks to be the better choice for Jobs yet to be allocated but the other Resources are left behind. If all of the Resources moved forward in time together then that gives Mendel a better set of balanced choices to who the best Resource to give the next Job to is. The time to earliest start for Resource 1 is now quite big because they have been given the Jobs and moved forward in time but the other 2 Resources are sitting at 0. If you start costing based on time to earliest start, then all of sudden it’s unattractive to give a Job to Resource 1 and attractive to give it to one of the other Resources, hence spreading the work.

The Time to Earliest Start Cost per minute tends to be useful in tightly appointed scenarios and for doing concurrent Jobs because a Resource is required to bring another Resource with them to complete the Job. If the next Job allocated to Resource 1 is a concurrent Job, then Resource 1 will have to either pick Resource 2 or 3 to go with them. However, both Resources 2 and 3 if chosen, will jump ahead in the diary with lots of free time that will be wasted left in between.

It's better to keep Resources level in the diary if you plan to allocate concurrent Jobs.