A detailed workforce planning model including non-linear dependence of capacity on the size of the staff and cash management

This paper introduces an original planning model which integrates production, human resources and cash management decisions, taking into account the consequences that decisions in one area may have on other areas and allowing all these areas to be coordinated. The most relevant characteristics of the planning problem are: (1) production capacity is a non-linear function of the size of the staff; (2) firing costs may depend on the worker who is fired; (3) working time is managed under a working time account (WA) scheme, so positive balances must be paid to workers who leave the company; (4) there is a learning period for hired workers; and (5) cash management is included. A mixed integer linear program is designed to solve the problem. Despite the size and complexity of the model, it can be solved in a reasonable time. A numerical example, the main results of a computational experiment and a sensibility analysis illustrate the performance and benefits of the model. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.