Learning from healthcare: a perspective review on incorporating soft constraints into aviation maintenance scheduling
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/aviation.2026.26879Abstract
A key consideration in effective aviation maintenance scheduling is the satisfaction of maintenance personnel in relation to allocating tasks and work scheduling. Research that reflects the satisfaction of aviation maintenance staff is limited. Studies focusing on soft constraints in aviation maintenance are nearly non-existent. Soft constraints encompass flexible factors such as employee preferences, workload distribution, and work environment, which significantly impact employee satisfaction and job performance. Aircraft maintenance optimisation needs to consider both hard and soft constraints. Soft constraints have been extensively studied in healthcare and, as this perspective review argues, this can provide valuable insights for aviation maintenance scheduling management. Specifically, aviation maintenance requirements, such as task-based scheduling, necessitate the development of tailored tools to efficiently accommodate the sector’s particularities. This perspective review of aviation maintenance scheduling literature was focused on identifying gaps in the consideration of soft constraints. While there are some studies on incorporating soft constraints into an effective fatigue management system, there is a paucity of research in this area in aviation maintenance. Conversely, the reviewed literature reveals that hard constraints have received greater attention in modelling. This perspective review proposes the development of designated soft constraints to measure the satisfaction of aviation maintenance personnel.
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aviation maintenance, shift scheduling, soft constraints, staff satisfactionHow to Cite
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