OK so heres something I'm finding particularly difficult (and I'm not expert).
I'm trying to convince myself that it would be possible to automate a sheet I use at work that allows me to enter a list of staff working that day and the shifts they are working, in put what skills they have, stipulate if they have any abstractions that day (eg a meeting) and then slot those staff into roles that need filling that day. (Basically this is a sort of call centre with different phone lines for different subjects/skills).
Eg: 50 staff are working various shifts in a 24hr hour period, most of them can do role 1, 2, 3 and 4 but some can't do role 1 or 2. 1 of them has a meeting between 1200 and 1300. I need 4 people to do role 1 between 0700 and 1200, and then 6 people to do role 1 between 1200 and 0700, I need 2 people to do role 2 all day (but no one should do the same role for more than say 6 hours). Etc etc. Oh and they all need to have 30 minute meal break around halfway through their 9 hour shift, and 2 15 minute screen breaks (1 either side of their meal beak) and if possible they all need to have a fair amount of exposure on each role they are skilled in.
Assuming I haven't confused you all, does this sound feasible and if so where do I start.
I wait with great anticipation.
Lee