Unplanned events such as extreme weather create significant operational issues for all organisations, but the effects are felt particularly acutely in the utilities sector.
With crucial network assets exposed to the elements, energy and water companies are quite literally in the front line - with disruption having serious knock-on economic and social consequences.
Such situations can create a converging set of threats for utility companies, including public health and safety issues,
lower customer satisfaction levels, negative media profile and the potential for significant regulator fines.
How quickly and effectively an organisation responds to a crisis can dictate the amount of reputational and financial damage
it ultimately suffers.
Traditionally it has been accepted that this urgency means Working Time Regulations and general cost scrutiny are put to
one side as required resources are mobilised to get critical services back on line.
But does it really need to be like this?
This article briefly explores how utility companies can use workforce planning processes and technology to prepare as effectively
as possible for extreme events such as bad weather.
It will examine:
The predictive power of data:
Whilst the severity and precise impact of an unplanned event can’t always be accurately predicted, there is still much that
can be done to understand how it might affect labour supply and demand.
Rigorous analysis of historical working time data and schedules can...
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