Our Services
Operations Research gives executives the power to make more effective decisions and to build more productive systems.
Operations Research
Solving Real-World Problems
Our main focus is the appliance of quantitative O.R. methods on complex, real-world aviation problems.
Operations Research (O.R.) is the discipline of applying appropriate analytical methods to help make better decisions. By using techniques such as mathematical modeling to analyze complex situations, Operations Research gives executives the power to make more effective decisions and to build more productive systems.
Operations Research is characterized by:
- Optimization: The underlying objective of the problem shall be optimized (maximized or minimized).
- Model-analytic approach: Model-based thinking and analysis are the basic principles of operations research.
- Problem quantification: The quantification and calculation of the regarded decision problems are a main feature of operations research.
- Decision support: Decisions are not automatically made, but rather supported by supplying decision relevant quantitative information.
Some of the most well-studied examples for the successful appliance of O.R. techniques in the airline industry are:
- Fleet assignment optimization
- Crew pairing and rostering optimization
- Tail assignment optimization
Real-world problems, especially in the airline industry, are often extremely difficult to solve efficiently, because the linear growth of input data leads to an exponential growth of possible solutions. To find an optimal decision regarding both the objective and the necessary effort, empirical considerations are being replaced by scientifically founded planning methods and decision techniques.
The development of optimization solutions is usually based on the following procedure:
- Identifying and abstracting the real problem
- Formulation of a mathematical model
- Solving the mathematical model
- Interpretation of the mathematical solution and suggestion for the real problem
Optimization solutions have to consider the existing operational and organizational structure of an enterprise in order to achieve the optimal efficiency of a human-machine system. This is particularly important to decision support systems that combine the efficiency of computers on well-structured problems with the ability of humans on solving poorly-structured problems in order to support decision makers in making better decisions.
Below you will find some of the most commonly applied O.R. methods and techniques.
Mixed-Integer Linear Programming
Linear Programming is one of the most important and most well-known O.R. instruments. The challenge in practical applications is the development of a mathematical model that is suitable for the real problem and efficiently solvable by a standard solver (e.g. IBM ILOG CPLEX or Gurobi).
Heuristic Implementations for Non-Linear Problems
The high complexity in practical applications is often increased by the fact that the objective functions are not linear or the size of the problems prevents from solving with a standard solver in an acceptable amount of time. In such cases the development of heuristic procedures is recommended. A heuristic is a method that might not always find the best solution, but is guaranteed to find a good solution in reasonable time.
Configuration and Calibration of Models
After developing and implementing the models and systems these must be configured and calibrated in order to generate high quality solutions in reasonable time.
Operations Research
Proof-of-Concept Studies and Potential Assessment
We support you in assessing your potential during preliminary studies by developing and executing mathematical models.
After many years of practical experience, besides in-depth knowledge in designing mathematical models and efficient algorithms, we have developed a rapid prototyping framework for airline optimization applications.
In the past we have supported our clients in different kinds of potential analysis.
Using Existing Applications
Sometimes potential analysis can be done by manipulating data and configuring existing applications.
Examples we supported by configuration of existing applications:
- Analysis of increasing the number of cabin crew qualifications for crew rostering.
- Analysis of the trade-off between overtime pay and request fulfillment for cockpit crews during crew rostering.
Using Product Benchmarks
Especially during vendor selection processes, benchmarking results based on prepared real data can be used for evaluation.
Examples we supported by using products and benchmark results:
- Business case evaluation by extrapolation of benchmark results for crew pairing and rostering optimizers.
- Product evaluation for supporting several tail assignment tasks related to operations control.
Using Prototype Results
If there are no products on the market available the development of prototypes will help to assess potentials.
Examples we supported by developing and evaluating prototypes:
- Potential assessment for proactive handling of bad weather and crew strike irregularities to minimize passenger impact considering itinerary based passenger re-accommodation options.
- Evaluation of meta-heuristics for the optimization of flight connections at hub airports.
Operations Research
Identifying Optimization Requirements
We support you in identifying your specific requirements to develop or customize optimization applications
The success of O.R. projects depends on structured procedure, mathematical background knowledge as well as problem-specific expertise.
When translating your business requirements into IT system requirements the following optimizer specific areas have to be addressed.
Optimization Scope
After identification of your business tasks to be supported, your process specific optimizer acceptance scenarios and requirements have to be deduced.
Examples where we supported the scoping of optimizers:
- Process analysis and scoping of tail assignment related business tasks, e.g. aircraft crew synchronization and fuel consumption optimization.
- Process analysis and scoping of crew roster maintenance related business tasks, e.g. crew candidate selection and roster maintenance optimization.
Objectives and Rules
Your business constraints and objectives have to be translated into optimizer requirements.
Examples where we supported the description of optimizer rules and objectives:
- Functional specification of a crew rostering optimizer and implementation of crew rostering rules and objectives.
- Functional specification of a tail assignment based optimizer for operations and maintenance control.
- Implementation of objectives and rules during prototyping of an optimizer to minimize passenger impact in proactive cancellation scenarios.
Non-functional Requirements
Besides response times, requirements for simple extensibility and user acceptance of optimizer solutions have to be described.
Examples where we supported the description of non-functional optimizer requirements:
- Description of non-functional requirements for a tail assignment related optimizer.
- Description of non-functional requirements for a crew rostering related optimizer.
Operations Research
System Configuration and Calibration
We support you in configuration, rule implementation and calibration of your optimization applications.
In order to achieve goals sustainably, to use resources efficiently and, finally, to ensure high user acceptance, the following configuration aspects of optimization applications have to be managed.
Rule Management
Managing rules is essential to get realistic high-quality solutions. Besides implementation and maintenance, documentation of business rules is an important success factor for optimizers.
Examples where we supported rule management tasks:
- Implementation and documentation of crew rostering rules.
- Documentation and prototypical implementation of tail assignment rules.
Optimizer Calibration
Calibration of optimizers is necessary to achieve goals sustainably and to use resources efficiently.
Examples where we calibrated optimizers:
- Implementation and calibration of objectives for crew pairing and rostering optimizers.
- Calibration of objectives for a hub flight connection optimizer.
- Implementation and calibration of objectives for a flight leg cancellation optimizer.
System Configuration
Not only objectives and constraints but also additional application parameters have to be configured, e.g. optimizer algorithm parameters.
Examples where we configured application parameters:
- Configuration of crew rostering and paring optimizers.
- Configuration of a hub flight connection optimizer.
- Configuration of a connection builder model to reduce the number of connections in a huge flight network.
Project Execution
Software Engineering and Customization
Our project focus is on software engineering projects as well as projects for the procurement, customization and implementation of off-the- shelf airline software solutions.
INOCON supports you in the design, development and implementation of tailored software solutions. Benefit from our longtime project experience and our methodological skills in software engineering to develop solutions that best fit your companys specific business needs. Capitalize on your investments by building IT solutions that support your specific business processes and help you to implement your unique business strategy to maintain and achieve new competitive advantages.
Implementing off-the-shelf airline software solutions can be a way to benefit from airline best practices associated with standard aviation software, to respond faster to changing business needs and to reduce project risks and total cost of ownership. To successfully leverage these potentials, INOCON supports you in identifying the best fit solution by structured vendor and product evaluation, in system customization and configuration to fit the selected software product to your specific business needs and in the successful implementation and migration. Our customers benefit from our industry expertise and our knowledge of packaged airline IT solutions and providers.
Project Execution
Supporting all Project Phases
We provide tailored support for project execution in all phases of the project lifecycle.
INOCON supports project execution across the whole project life cycle – from requirements analysis, design, development and test to implementation and roll out. We adapt our project approach und methodology to the specific requirements of each individual project and – if applicable – to the procedure models applied by our customers for each specific project type.
Business Process Analysis and Design
Based on our longtime experience in the airline industry and our knowledge of industry best practices, we support our airline customers in analyzing, modeling and reengineering of their business processes.
Proof-of-Concept Studies / Potential Assessment
INOCON provides preliminary studies and prototyping for the assessment of optimization potentials by applying operations research methodology. Based on this information, business case calculations for the commercial assessment of planned projects for the implementation of optimization solutions will become more reliable.
Requirements Engineering
INOCON supports you in the complete and clear identification, specification and documentation of your functional and non functional requirements. Through our many years of experience in the aviation industry, we are speaking the “aviation language” and we understand your business needs - a major prerequisite for the successful transpation into detailed system requirements.
Vendor and Product Evaluation
Based on detailed requirements analysis, we support our customers in finding the "best fit" IT solutions for their specific business needs by providing structured evaluation of vendors and software products. To support our customers procurement processes, we are preparing Request for proposal (RFP) and - information (RFI) documents.
Functional Specification
INOCON supports IT software development by generating functional specification to describe the system at different level of detail. By early and close involvement of our customers business departments in the process of creation of functional specifications, we increase user acceptance and reduce project risks.
Initial Configuration and Business Rules Setup
A main task during implementation of business rules based IT systems is the initial configuration and setup of business rules to fine tune the system business logic to the functional business requirements. INOCON supports project execution in the initial setup, documentation and test of business rules.
Test Definition and Planning
INOCON supports the test planning and the creation of test procedures, scenarios and test cases as well as the test result analysis. Our focus is on functional testing for software verification and validation.
Design and Implementation of OR Solutions
INOCON designs, develops and implements packaged optimization solutions to improve efficiency of exsting IT solutions. These modular software components are interfacing with existing airline IT solutions and are integrated in our customers existing IT landscape.
Operational Services
Business Rules Management
INOCON provides operational support services and tools for the rapid and transparent maintenance and documentation of your airline IT business rules in day to day IT operations. This includes the translation of new business requirements into concrete business rules setup as well as the testing, implementation and consistent documentation of modified business rules settings.
Modern, innovative IT solutions increasingly rely on comprehensive options for system configuration, based on business rules that aim to increase system flexibility and allow to fine tune business logic to fast changing requirements in a dynamic business environment.
In addition to simply react to changing business requirements, INOCON provides consulting services to proactively analyze existing business rules and configuration options of your airline IT solutions to assess its potential in supporting modified business processes and strategies.
Our customers benefit from getting a better understanding of the strategic scope that the existing IT systems are able to support by simply modifying their business rules.
Operational Services
Solver Calibration
INOCON provides operational support services and tools for rapid and transparent maintenance of solver calibration. This includes the translation of new business requirements into concrete solver settings as well as the testing, implementation and consistent documentation of modified solver settings.
The implementation of optimization solutions can boost your airline IT system efficiency. However, in a dynamic business environment, business requirements are changing. This can also have impact on the basic parameters and the target functions of your optimization approach and may require new calibration of your optimization solutions.