Hi. I'm trying to use Solver to calculate the least number staff to cover a specified Required staff at half hour intervals. I'm probably using solver incorrectly (!) but the answer it provides is way off being optimized.
The data I have is quite simple:
Column A: time of day in half hour intervals
Column B: Required number of staff in each half hour interval
Column C: Number of new staff provided in each half hour interval (this is the column that solver can change)
Column D: Coverage (accumulated FTE) for that half hour interval (ie 8 hour shift so if you have 1 person in column C at 09:00 and 2 new people at 09:30 in column C then column D would have 1 FTE at 09:00 and 3 at 09:30)
Column E: is the Error squared (Column D less Column B squared)
I am trying to optimise the sum of column E so specify it as minimise, and the constraints are Column D should be >=1 and Column C should be an integer.
I'm sure this is fairly basic - but could really do with some help!
Thanks
The data I have is quite simple:
Column A: time of day in half hour intervals
Column B: Required number of staff in each half hour interval
Column C: Number of new staff provided in each half hour interval (this is the column that solver can change)
Column D: Coverage (accumulated FTE) for that half hour interval (ie 8 hour shift so if you have 1 person in column C at 09:00 and 2 new people at 09:30 in column C then column D would have 1 FTE at 09:00 and 3 at 09:30)
Column E: is the Error squared (Column D less Column B squared)
I am trying to optimise the sum of column E so specify it as minimise, and the constraints are Column D should be >=1 and Column C should be an integer.
I'm sure this is fairly basic - but could really do with some help!
Thanks