Assessment of Staffing Needs of Systems Specialists in Aviation (2013) / Chapter Skim
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3 Considerations in Creating a Staffing Model
3 Considerations in Creating a Staffing Model
Pages 41-63
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From page 41... ...
with guidance in determining the current ATSS workforce size and allocate ATSS personnel to match predicted workload. This portion of the cycle can be a difficult and poorly executed step of an overall workforce planning process, as developing tools to ascertain the kinds, numbers, and location of workers needed to accomplish an enterprise's goals and objectives can prove a tremendous 41
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From page 42... ...
Because ATSS personnel maintain tens of thousands of pieces of equipment of different types and at various stages of the equipment lifespan across a broad geographic area, and at a high level of operational readiness, defining and measuring the workload is formidable. Different philosophies about maintenance -- for example, a philosophy of preventive inspections and maintenance versus one of "repair when the system breaks" -- create a wide spectrum of potential staffing outcomes.
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From page 43... ...
An ancillary benefit to careful workforce planning is personal life balance for ATSS personnel.4 In addition, the value of an accurate staffing model also has to take into account the value of a high functioning NAS that is both safe and efficient. Although these costs are generally recognized and can be estimated with varying degrees of precision, it would be impossible to calculate the exact cost of understaffing in terms of its impact on business and commerce.
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From page 44... ...
Comprehensive Study Design Process To be accurate in its estimates, a staffing model should be designed using a comprehensive development process that captures major drivers of ATSS workload at the appropriate level of detail and properly links the workload to the number of person-hours required to achieve the defined tasks of the job incumbents. Although it was not the intent of the committee to prescribe a detailed staffing model methodology, this report does discuss the steps in a generic logical model development process so that essential actions are considered and not overlooked in creating a specific model for ATSS personnel.
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From page 45... ...
The decision to continue development efforts is based on initial data- and fact-gathering concerning the responsibilities of job incumbents, the environment in which work is performed, and the resources available to the modeler such as time records, equipment lifespan data, etc. Two approaches to viewing work are commonly used: a work site approach and a work process approach.
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From page 46... ...
A WBS is usually created by taking major work categories or components and breaking them down into smaller and smaller subcomponents. A POD is designed to document functions by inputs, process, and outputs, and then identify the subcomponents or details of these process elements.8 The WBS or POD should contain a fairly complete description of the various tasks performed in the work sites because it forms the basis for the staffing model.
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From page 47... ...
A critical question for the study team is how the data relevant to the modeling task will be gathered. For example, the team might use interviews of subject matter experts, a time study based on samples of work, or a by-location, by-workelement shift profile analysis.11 Any combination of methods for collecting data may be used, but the approaches to collecting data need to be clearly defined, preferably tested on a sample of the overall workforce, and then refined based upon the lessons learned in the test, prior to conducting full-scale data collection.
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From page 48... ...
These tools are often used at the location level and then aggregated to obtain total system requirements. Ideally, algorithms produce a set of tables that indicate the correct number and skill mix for a work site to accomplish its mission sets.
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From page 49... ...
The committee had several discussions regarding how an effective model would look and how it could predict an effective number of ATSS personnel necessary for maintaining the NAS in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. These discussions did not focus on a total number of ATSS personnel, but there was an understanding that, should the model generate a number greater than 6,100, the anticipated FAA budget would need to be quickly increased to avoid the 12Validation is the process of determining the degree to which a model or simulation and its associated data are an accurate representation of the real world from the perspective of the intended uses of the model.
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From page 50... ...
Recommendation 3-1: The FAA should execute a modeling process that allows for future improvements in data modeling techniques and applicability. Key Model Considerations There are many other key model considerations that contribute to the success of modeling efforts.
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From page 51... ...
The difference between the two estimates provides forewarning to the organization that changes in staffing levels are likely to occur. Proactive organizations build staffing-process ramps to increase or decrease the number of individuals with the skills to match the current staffing needs that are determined by changing equipment, services, and budget realities.
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From page 52... ...
Consider Whether the Model Should Be Descriptive or Predictive The 2006 report on Aviation Safety Inspector staffing contains a good explanation of whether a model should be descriptive or predictive. That account is quoted here with additional wording for clarification and application to ATSS staffing: 16For example, the relationship to demand for meals served and the staffing of a food service operation may be modeled simply as a straight line approximation of a factor of additional workers per incremental change in how many meals are required per day.
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From page 53... ...
A deterministic approach may involve many input variables, but in simple terms can be represented as an equation where the FTE requirement y is a function of multiple inputs x1, x2, …, xn. A potential risk of deterministic models is that they predict staffing demand based upon mean values (i.e., average conditions)
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From page 54... ...
Stochastic models provide a better notion of the potential staffing risk associated with unusual events, such as multiple failures. In the ATSS staffing situation, stochastic modeling may incorporate, for example, the probability that the appropriate number of ATSS specialists will be available to meet the demands of required maintenance, because it will take into account queuing issues (e.g., surges and unscheduled multiple maintenance demands)
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From page 55... ...
These two components will be affected by different variables, that is, travel distance, terrain, weather, and traffic for travel time; task complexity and ATSS personnel competence level for core task time. If the two subtasks are separated, simpler models can be built for each.
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From page 56... ...
as a matter of policy, not just through a local team leader's preference. An environmental variance adjusts hours for required tasks that are addressed in a work site description but are affected by environmental differences among locations (i.e., mountainous territory or snow)
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From page 57... ...
There are two categories of productive work activities: direct work and indirect work. Direct work activities are required by guidance, technical orders, or directives; are essential to and directly support the work site's mission; and can be identified with a particular service or end product.
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From page 58... ...
. However, because the FAA agreement with PASS regarding ATSS personnel contains a provision for Compensated Telephone Availability, such time should be considered in the model design process to optimize shift schedule requirements for meeting peak outages or demands (Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, 2012)
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From page 59... ...
However, excess use of overtime (or of borrowed workers from other organizations and contract workers) may indicate that the threshold staffing levels or shift schedule designs are not optimal within a work site.
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From page 60... ...
Employing these shortcuts could be a valid innovation if properly studied and approved, but may unfortunately create a hidden level of risk within the system and long-term negative effects overall. In the modeling arena, if the time required for procedures officially documented in the Technical Operations guidance is accurately measured, but in practice the work site operates differently from the guidance for whatever reasons, the time estimates are likely to be inaccurate.
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From page 61... ...
It also provides further recommendations that incorporate considerations introduced in this chapter. Drawing on the previous discussion of the ingredients for successful modeling (i.e., a logical design process, key model considerations, and vigilance in seeking to attain the five quality factors)
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From page 62... ...
Area 2. Structural Detail of Model • Model Type o Deterministic and/or stochastic components o Based upon documenting an accurate foundational work site description, or a process-oriented description, of work tasks o Documents standard and unique work conditions and environment components to allow for variances to normal situation in terms of additives, exclusions, deviations based upon mission, environment, or technological differences o odular features for ease of update/inclusion of NextGen and legacy system changes M
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From page 63... ...
o Detail of shift analysis and post staffing, to include treatment of peaks to handle contingency-based work, risk, identification of standby time, along with review of flexibility to do training and deferrable tasks within the standby • Output variables o Estimates needed for entire workforce or subcategories; types of organization, skills, and totals by location, facility, or other category o Not only gross FTE estimates but also ability to predict workforce needs by skill area Area 3. Quality Factors • Transparency • Scalability • Usability • Relevance • Validity Area 4.
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