Quintiq's Newest Project Takes Off with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

PR57736

'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, The Netherlands, Sep. 2 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    Quintiq's software platform manages the tactical and strategic planning of

2,800 pilots

    Quintiq [http://www.quintiq.com ], a global leader in supply chain planning

and optimization (SCP&O), announced today that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM)

[http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/about/index.htm ] has rolled out its software

platform to optimize its workforce planning strategies for pilot management.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130328/606756 )

    KLM pilots are each trained for a specific function, so career transitions

such as a promotion would affect schedules that may have been planned up to

three years in advance. Given the scale of coordinating thousands of pilots

across multiple functions, KLM's planners faced massive challenges in creating

schedules one to three years ahead. Furthermore, these advanced schedules had

to anticipate flight demand, accommodate pilots' vacation requests, adjust for

career transitions and adhere to evolving labor laws.

    Using Quintiq's software platform, planners now have the strategic support

to efficiently develop and revise plans that span years and account for

changes. Prior to the implementation of Quintiq software platform, KLM's

planners could take up to a month to complete the development of a three-year

plan. With the Quintiq solution, KLM planners can develop a three-year plan

overnight. The elimination of repetitive planning and increased efficiency

enable planners to also simulate the results of different strategic decisions

in order to make the optimal choice.

    Quintiq's software platform is also key to helping KLM reduce costs

incurred from dealing with pilot understaffing. The solution accounts for the

introduction of new aircraft types, pilot retirements and other disruptions,

allowing the planners to make the changes needed to keep schedules running

smoothly.

    Using expected flight demand as a guide, the Quintiq software platform

shows KLM's planners the available balance for each function per week, with

less capacity available around popular vacation times. Planners, aided by the

solution's optimization capability, grant or decline leave requests in

accordance with a strict procedure that dictates the order in which the

requests should be processed. The Quintiq software platform will facilitate

employee satisfaction by ensuring pilots' function requests are met and their

vacation requests are processed effectively. Overall, KLM will benefit from

having a solution that optimizes a fully transparent strategic and tactical

plan, enabling it to maintain operational strength at optimal cost.

    "KLM needed a flexible solution that could efficiently manage the important

aspects of pilot staffing and keep workforce-related costs minimal," said

Pieter Wensveen, VP Finance and Crew Planning at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

"Quintiq's knowledge of our business has impressed us, and we are delighted

that the roll-out is complete."

    "We are pleased to optimize KLM's pilot transition process and assist in

planning training and vacation schedules. We are growing our presence in the

aviation industry and KLM rolling out our software platform is fantastic

validation of our expertise," said Arjen Heeres, chief operating officer of

Quintiq. "We are proud of our Dutch heritage and excited to work on this new

project with our national airline."

    About KLM

    KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the world's oldest

airline still operating under its original name. In 2004, Air France and KLM

merged to form Air France-KLM. The merger produced the strongest European

airline group based on two powerful brands and hubs - Amsterdam Airport

Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Retaining its own identity, the group

focuses on three core businesses: passenger transport, cargo and aircraft

maintenance.

    In the Netherlands, KLM comprises the core of the KLM Group, which further

includes KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair. KLM serves all its

destinations using a modern fleet and employs over 33,000 people around the

world. KLM is a leader in the airline industry, offering reliable operations

and customer-oriented products resulting from its policy of enthusiasm and

sustainable innovation.

    KLM is a member of the global SkyTeam airline alliance, offering customers

an extensive worldwide network. The KLM network connects the Netherlands to

every important economic region in the world and, as such, serves as a powerful

driver for the economy.

    About Quintiq

    Every business has its supply chain planning puzzles. Some of those puzzles

are large. Some are complex. Some seem impossible to solve. Since 1997, Quintiq

has been solving each of those puzzles using a single supply chain planning &

optimization software platform. Today, approximately 12,000 users in over 80

countries rely on Quintiq software to plan and optimize workforces, logistics

and production. Quintiq has headquarters in the Netherlands and the USA, and

offices around the world.

    For more information, visit http://www.quintiq.com or follow Quintiq on

Twitter [https://twitter.com/Quintiq ], Facebook

[https://www.facebook.com/Quintiq ], LinkedIn

[http://www.linkedin.com/company/quintiq ] and YouTube

[http://www.youtube.com/user/channelquintiq ].

    Press Contacts:

    North America Enquiries

    Brittany Falconer

    Racepoint Group

    Tel: +1-617-624-3242

    Quintiq@Racepointgroup.com

    EMEA Enquiries

    Simon Clark

    Weber Shandwick

    Tel: +44-20-7067-0263

    quintiq@webershandwick.com

SOURCE: Quintiq