Examples¶
Learn how to use Savanty through real-world optimization problems.
Problem Categories¶
Staff Scheduling¶
Schedule employees for shifts with constraints like:
- Availability windows
- Skill requirements
- Maximum hours per week
- Consecutive shift limits
Route Planning¶
Optimize delivery and service routes with:
- Time windows
- Vehicle capacity
- Multiple stops
- Distance minimization
Resource Allocation¶
Assign resources to tasks considering:
- Skills and qualifications
- Workload balancing
- Priority levels
- Dependencies
Event Seating¶
Arrange seating for events with:
- Relationship constraints (exes, feuding relatives)
- Accessibility requirements
- Group preferences
- Table capacities
Timetabling¶
Create schedules for courses or events:
- Room assignments
- Instructor availability
- Prerequisite ordering
- Conflict avoidance
Team Formation¶
Build teams with optimal composition:
- Skill coverage
- Leadership distribution
- Personality balance
- Experience levels
Tips for Writing Problems¶
Be Specific¶
Instead of:
"I need to schedule workers"
Write:
"Schedule 5 nurses (Alice, Bob, Carol, Dave, Eve) for morning, afternoon, and night shifts across Monday through Friday"
List Constraints Clearly¶
Use bullet points or numbered lists:
Text Only
Constraints:
1. Each shift needs exactly 2 nurses
2. No nurse works more than 4 shifts per week
3. No back-to-back shifts (night then morning)
4. Alice cannot work weekends
Specify Objectives¶
Tell Savanty what "optimal" means:
- "Minimize total travel distance"
- "Maximize the number of tasks completed"
- "Balance workload evenly across workers"
Provide Context¶
If terminology is domain-specific, explain it:
"A 'split shift' means working morning and night but not afternoon on the same day. We want to minimize split shifts."