Improve On-time Performance Research Articles

U.S. airline responses to mandated disclosure of non-financial performance

This paper provides evidence on US airlines’ responses to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) mandated disclosure of non-financial performance. We find that while all three DOT measures are associated with customer complaints, airlines are more likely to improve on-time performance rather than mishandled bags and ticket over-sales following poor prior period performance. We also find that on-time performance is the only DOT measure that is associated with future accounting performance and is significantly associated with CEO compensation after controlling for financial performance and load factor. We also provide preliminary results to show that airlines incorporate the more informative component of the on-time measure in CEO compensation. Overall, we provide new understanding of how organizations react to the disclosure of non-financial performance and use incentives to improve these measures.

Automatic Vehicle Location and Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems: Design and Application Considerations

Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems can track transit vehicles in real time. Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) software is used to monitor transit operations and assist management of transit operations. Together with AVL systems, CAD software can be used to replace a disabled vehicle by dispatching another vehicle, or meet fluctuating travel demand by adjusting transit headways, schedules, and routes. AVL and CAD technologies can vitalize transit by directly improving on-time performance, increasing transit efficiency through providing dispatchers with location, direction and status information, and reducing operating costs through reducing dependence on transit field supervisory personnel. Direct benefits to travelers can include higher reliability of travel times and reduced stress in dealing with transit unreliability. This study explores the development, availability, and impacts of AVL/CAD technologies as reported by AVL vendors and transit implementers. The study defines the key features, functions, and performance characteristics of AVL/CAD technologies that can influence the level of benefits realized. The AVL/CAD implementation context is explored by examining where, when, and for what users these systems are being implemented. The results of two surveys are reported. To explore the availability of AVU CAD systems, technology suppliers were surveyed. Suppliers identified the features, functions, and performance of available AVUCAD technologies. To determine the extent of AVL/CAD deployment, transit operators were surveyed regarding their experiences with AVL/CAD technologies and the subsequent impacts on travelers and transit agency performance. This research provides a systematic method for evaluation of AVL/CAD systems and reports the perceptions of AVL/CAD vendors and transit implementers regarding available products and their impacts. The results suggest a need for better tools to characterize and quantify the impacts and benefits of AVU CAD systems.

Incentives and Competition in the Airline Industry

AbstractWe examine how performance changes at airlines in response to a change in executive incentives. Airlines with executive bonuses contingent on on-time arrival do improve on-time performance. We find evidence of strategic gaming of the incentive as some carriers increase scheduled flight times, making it easier for flights to arrive on time. This effect is more pronounced for competitive routes. Carriers also do not decrease the frequency of flights or the number of passengers to make it easier to be on time, but they do slightly decrease fares. Competitors on the same routes also improve their on-time performance, even when their executive bonuses are not contingent on on-time performance, consistent with competition in strategic complements. (JEL G30, G34, G32)Received February 5, 2018; editorial decision April 3, 2019 by Editor Andrew Ellul.

Increasing civil aviation capacity in China requires harmonizing the physical and human components of capacity: A review and investigation

China is the world's second largest aviation market and is projected to become the largest by the mid-2020s. However, there is a mismatch among the three critical components that determine aviation capacity: airports, airlines, and air traffic management. The uneven pace of development for these major components within the aviation system limits the efforts to improve on-time performance and accommodate the growing market demand. Through a careful examination of academic literature, official reports, and news articles, this study examines the recent achievements, reform, and institutional challenges facing the three critical components in China's aviation system. It highlights their interactions with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the omnipresent aviation authority in China, and explains the mismatch between the rapidly expanding ground aviation infrastructure and a highly constrained airspace amid increasing demand for air travel and worsening on-time performance. By incorporating institutional factors into the discussion of the critical components, this study aims to help enhance the understanding of China's civil aviation and inform officials to take necessary actions to prepare the country for the continuing growth of its aviation market.

Air Traffic Flow Management slot allocation to minimize propagated delay and improve airport slot adherence

In Europe, one of the instruments at the Network Manager’s (NM) disposal to tackle demand-capacity imbalance is to impose ground, i.e. Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), delays to flights. To compensate for anticipated delays and improve on-time performance, Aircraft Operators usually embed a buffer time in their schedules. The current practice for allocating ATFM delays does not take into account if flights have any remaining schedule buffer to absorb ATFM delay and reduce delay propagation to subsequent flights. Furthermore, the policy presently employed is to minimize ATFM delays, an order of magnitude of half a minute per flight, while propagated delays are approximately ten times higher. In this paper, we explore the possibility to control ATFM delay distribution in a way so as to minimize delay propagated to subsequent flights, but also to increase flights’ adherence to airport slots at coordinated airports. To this aim, we propose a two-level mixed-integer optimization model to solve en-route demand-capacity imbalance problem and further improve airport slot adherence. The rationales behind the research are drawn from practical experience, while the model proposed is compatible with the one currently being used by the NM, making it easy to implement. We test the model on two real-world case studies and conduct ex post analysis to test the effects of violation of model assumptions on results. The results show that it is possible to use the proposed methodology to lower delay propagated to subsequent flights and at the same time to improve airport slot adherence. In addition, they suggest that the current regulatory settings aiming to minimize ATFM delay minutes, as well as operational implementation thereof, are neither necessarily fully aligned with the desires and operating goals of Aircraft Operators, nor they improve the predictability of operations in the network.

Integrated fleet assignment and aircraft routing based on delay propagation

Airlines’ expensive resources, especially aircraft, are to be optimally scheduled to cover flights of timetables. However, the irregular flight, due to bad weather, mechanical fault and so on, is inevitable. Moreover, flight delays become more severe with the rapid development of the air transport industry in China and have huge irregular flight cost. In order to alleviate flight delays impact on the flight plan, we present a double objective multi-commodity network flow model of flight delay propagation-based aircraft scheduling and minimize the total delay propagation and airline operation cost as the optimization objective. Branch-and-price solution and column generation algorithm are used to solve the problem. Computational results obtained by using data from a major domestic airline show that our approach can reduce delay propagation significantly, thus improving on-time performance and robustness of aircraft scheduling, and decreasing the total cost simultaneously.

Execution: improving on-time performance

THIS issue of EMR examines some of the issues and challenges related to improving on-time performance. As managers of engineering and technology and as technical professionals we’re aware of the negative consequences of not meeting requirements, schedule delays, and cost overruns. We play a major role in fulfilling the discipline of execution as described by Bossidy and Charan; we share those responsibilities with other organizational executives and managers.

Execution: improving on-time performance

Summary form only given. TOFFLER'S quotation should give us pause to reflect on it; as projects become more complex, multi-disciplinary and multi-functional, and involving global organizations, integration takes on new dimensions. As the incoming Editor-in-Chief, I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Paul Bergey on behalf of the Technology Management Council's Board of Governors for his dedication in maintaining the high standards developed by previous EiC Dr. Wade Shaw, who shepherded the EMR for seven years. Thank you Paul and best wishes for your continued success at the University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia or wherever your career may lead. Let's keep in touch. This issue of EMR continues to examine the challenges and issues related to improving on-time performance. The topic includes a wide range of disciplines related to strategy; operations; new products and services development; product and process platforms; leadership and innovation and entrepreneurship; the continuum from R&D to production management; managing change; and all the management issues related in moving a product from R&D to the marketplace. This issue introduces our seventh Portfolio Topic, From Engineer to Intrapreneur to Entrepreneur: Starting Business Risk Free, by Dr. Milton Chang, IEEE Fellow. We introduce two original articles: An Academic Template for Graduate Programs in Engineering and Technology Management (ETM) by Dr. Rias van Wyk, Director: Technoscan® Centre, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This paper focuses on the future directions of management of technology from both a strategic and operational perspective. Improving your Odds for Software Project Success, by Frese and Sauter consider some tools and methodologies that can mitigate problematic projects. I hope you find the articles interesting and look forward to your comments and suggestions (g.gaynor@ieee.org).

Where Is My Bus? Impact of mobile real-time information on the perceived and actual wait time of transit riders

In order to attract more choice riders, transit service must not only have a high level of service in terms of frequency and travel time but also must be reliable. Although transit agencies continuously work to improve on-time performance, such efforts often come at a substantial cost. One inexpensive way to combat the perception of unreliability from the user perspective is real-time transit information. The OneBusAway transit traveler information system provides real-time next bus countdown information for riders of King County Metro via website, telephone, text-messaging, and smart phone applications. Although previous studies have looked at traveler response to real-time information, few have addressed real-time information via devices other than public display signs. For this study, researchers observed riders arriving at Seattle-area bus stops to measure their wait time while asking a series of questions, including how long they perceived that they had waited. The study found that for riders without real-time information, perceived wait time is greater than measured wait time. However, riders using real-time information do not perceive their wait time to be longer than their measured wait time. This is substantiated by the typical wait times that riders report. Real-time information users say that their average wait time is 7.5 min versus 9.9 min for those using traditional arrival information, a difference of about 30%. A model to predict the perceived wait time of bus riders was developed, with significant variables that include the measured wait time, an indicator variable for real-time information, an indicator variable for PM peak period, the bus frequency in buses per hour, and a self-reported typical aggravation level. The addition of real-time information decreases the perceived wait time by 0.7 min (about 13%). A critical finding of the study is that mobile real-time information reduces not only the perceived wait time, but also the actual wait time experienced by customers. Real-time information users in the study wait almost 2 min less than those arriving using traditional schedule information. Mobile real-time information has the ability to improve the experience of transit riders by making the information available to them before they reach the stop.

Improving On-Time Performance for Long-Distance Passenger Trains Operating on Freight Routes

This paper discusses on-time performance (OTP) for long-distance passenger trains operating over tracks that are owned and operated by freight railroads. OTP is addressed primarily from the point of view of the host railroad. A brief literature review identifies practices that are commonly used by railroads and other modes to develop and implement achievable schedules. Analysis of travel time, train delay and other data for Amtrak trains operating on CSXT's I95 Corridor documents actual levels of reliability and the primary causes of poor OTP. Comparison of performance for passenger trains and various classes of freight trains demonstrates that Amtrak trains operate much faster and more reliably than CSXT's trains. Potential means of improving the OTP of Amtrak trains are discussed. While providing high quality track with sufficient capacity is the long-run solution for upgrading OTP, a short-run solution is to base schedules on past performance ("experience-based scheduling"). After Amtrak increased the schedule of the Auto Train by one hour in 2006, OTP improved from less than 10% in early 2006 to 82% for the first half of 2008. Analysis of the travel time distributions of the other long-distance Amtrak trains operating on CSXT's I95 Corridor from 2004 to 2008 indicates that a similar schedule increase would also have brought these other trains close to Amtrak's goal of 80% OTP. Schedules that reflect track maintenance requirements and other known seasonal and weekly factors would allow further improvements in measured OTP. Additional measures of performance concerning the probability and extent of late arrivals would be beneficial to travelers in planning their trips.

Utilizing Lean Principles to Improve On-Time Performance in the Presurgical Department

Utilizing Lean Principles to Improve On-Time Performance in the Presurgical Department

Planning for Robust Airline Operations: Optimizing Aircraft Routings and Flight Departure Times to Minimize Passenger Disruptions

Airlines typically construct their schedules assuming that every flight leg will depart and arrive as planned. Because this optimistic scenario rarely occurs, these plans are frequently disrupted and airlines often incur significant costs in addition to those originally planned. Flight delays and schedule disruptions also cause passenger delays and disruptions. A more robust plan can reduce the occurrence and impact of these delays, thereby reducing costs. In this paper, we present two new approaches to minimize passenger disruptions and achieve robust airline schedule plans. The first approach involves routing aircraft, and the second involves retiming flight departure times. Because each airplane usually flies a sequence of flight legs, delay of one flight leg might propagate along the aircraft route to downstream flight legs and cause further delays and disruptions. We propose a new approach to reduce delay propagation by intelligently routing aircraft. We formulate this problem as a mixed-integer programming problem with stochastically generated inputs. An algorithmic solution approach is presented. Computational results obtained using data from a major U.S. airline show that our approach can reduce delay propagation significantly, thus improving on-time performance and reducing the numbers of passengers disrupted. Our second area of research considers passengers who miss their flight legs due to insufficient connection time. We develop a new approach to minimize the number of passenger misconnections by retiming the departure times of flight legs within a small time window. We formulate the problem and an algorithmic solution approach is presented. Computational results obtained using data from a major U.S. airline show that this approach can substantially reduce the number of passenger misconnections without significantly increasing operational costs.

Transit User Perceptions of the Benefits of Automatic Vehicle Location

An attitudinal survey on transit riders’ perception of the importance transit users place on features of an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system is reported. Onboard surveys and on-time field checks were conducted in the cities of Manitowoc and Racine, Wisconsin, to determine how users in those cities perceive their transit systems and how well each transit system performs. The surveys indicate that transit riders put a great value on increased on-time performance and improved schedule reliability. Passengers value features that AVL technology could bring, such as improving on-time performance, knowing when the next bus will arrive, knowing how long the delay is in case of delay, and knowing that another bus could be dispatched in case of breakdown. The surveys indicate that AVL technology could improve transit services and add value to passengers. The survey also found the expected ridership increase resulting from the AVL technology to be moderate. On-time performance surveys conducted in each city indicate that transit services in these communities generally operate on time at the route level. Although there are bigger variations at the timepoint level, transit services are usually on time. The implementation of AVL could further improve on-time performance, but maybe only marginally.

Improving on-time performance in health care organizations: a case study.

In this paper, we propose a strategy to build a measurement system that helps improve on-time performance in health care organizations. We analyze the measurement system for monitoring the performance of daily start times of first surgeries in a U.S. hospital. Although surgeons appear to be the main cause of delay, efforts to improve their on-time performance alone are not sufficient to improve on-time performance for first surgeries. Therefore, working on the main source of delay to improve performance, as the Pareto principle suggests, does not always work in the health care context. Rather, we found that ameliorating the hospital's overall on-time performance achieves the desired result of improving surgeons' performance through a snowball effect (a self-reinforcing effect) and, consequently, the on-time performance for first surgeries also improves.

Predicting on-time performance in scheduled railroad operations: methodology and application to train scheduling

In previous work, the authors developed an analytical line delay model for analyzing rail line-haul operations, and validated the model as a predictive tool. This paper examines the application of the model as a prescriptive tool for the generation of train schedules. A unique feature of the model is that it incorporates dynamic meet/pass priorities in order to approximate an optimal meet/pass planning process. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to examine the application of the model for adjusting real-world schedules to improve on-time performance and reduce delay. This empirical work represents the first attempt to investigate the impacts of the scheduling methodology on on-time line-haul performance. The problems are based on historical data from a major North American railroad.