Welcome to CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha, a deterministic workload simulation framework for constrained operational environments. This specification provides guidance for using each module of the framework.

What This Document Covers

This document describes the interface, planning instruments, analysis modules, and operational features available within the current release. Each section corresponds to a functional area of the framework.

Core Capabilities

• Daily demand versus capacity modelling across maintenance events
• Discipline-level feasibility evaluation for workforce allocation
• Scenario reshaping under fixed duration constraints
• In-house and outsourced capacity comparison
• Real-time impact visualization through interactive charts
• Task metric analysis for resource allocation decisions

System Requirements

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha models maintenance workload as a conserved magnitude within constrained operational systems. For a defined maintenance scope, total required manhours are fixed by task definition, while temporal allocation may vary within prescribed duration and workforce limits.

The framework treats workload redistribution as a deterministic transformation subject to explicit constraints: fixed total effort, defined duration boundaries, and discipline-specific capacity limits. Daily demand is computed directly from task-level allocations and evaluated against declared workforce availability.

Governing Principles

• Conservation of Total Effort — Redistribution in time does not alter aggregate effort. Total manhours remain invariant across all temporal configurations.
• Constrained Temporal Mapping — Workload redistribution is bounded by duration limits, discipline-specific capacity, and structural dependencies.
• Deterministic Computation — Given identical inputs and structural definitions, the framework produces identical outputs. No stochastic modelling, probabilistic estimation, or machine-learning techniques are embedded.

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha uses license-key-based access. Users enter a valid license key to access the framework with their assigned role and permissions. A guest mode is also available for read-only evaluation.

Access Flow

The access sequence follows a three-step process:

1. Navigate to the CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha welcome page in your browser.
2. Select Enter Access Key for licensed access, or Continue as Guest for read-only evaluation.
3. If entering a license key, type your key into the access field and click Enter.
4. On first access (or after a license update), the License Agreement is displayed. Read and accept the terms to proceed.
5. Upon successful validation, you are directed to the framework dashboard with your assigned role.

License Key

Each license key is tied to a specific role within the framework. The key determines which tabs, views, and features you can access. License keys are issued by the administrator and validated locally using a secure hash-based mechanism. The key itself is never stored after validation — only an opaque session token is retained for the duration of the session.

Guest Access

Guest mode provides read-only access to the framework for evaluation purposes. No license key is required.

First-Time Access

Signing Out

To sign out, click your user badge in the header bar (which displays your name and role), then select Sign Out. The session token is destroyed and all satellite windows (Display, Charts, Load Shaping Console) close automatically.

The Project Structure tab is where maintenance work breakdown is defined and managed. Projects are organized in a tree hierarchy that models how maintenance work is structured.

Tree Hierarchy

Adding, Editing, and Deleting Nodes

1. Add a Node: Select the parent node in the tree, then click the Add button. Enter the node name and relevant details.
2. Edit a Node: Click on any existing node to open its editing panel. Modify the name, dates, manhours, or other fields as needed, then save.
3. Delete a Node: Select the node and click Delete. You will be prompted to confirm. Deleting a parent node removes all its children.

Date Fields

Each node can have a Start Date and End Date. When you change dates on a parent node, the dates cascade downward to all child nodes to maintain schedule consistency. Individual child dates can be overridden after cascading.

Manhours (MH)

The MH field at the task level represents total manhours required to complete that task. This value drives demand calculations displayed on the Dashboard and is used for coverage and capacity analysis. The FTE requirement is computed as: MH ÷ (days × 8.5).

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha organizes workforce disciplines into five categories. These categories represent functional groupings used within the simulation model for demand allocation and capacity evaluation.

Each Group node in the project tree is assigned to one of these five categories. Staff members are likewise assigned a primary discipline category, enabling the framework to compute discipline-specific demand and capacity.

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha uses a role-based access control system with 13 distinct roles organized across three tiers. Each role determines which views a user can access and what data they can modify.

Management Tier (Level 100–90)

Engineering Tier (Level 80–70)

Specialist Tier (Level 50)

The interface is organized with a fixed header bar at the top and a tabbed navigation system for switching between views.

Header Bar

Tab Navigation

The main navigation tabs appear below the header bar. Depending on your role, you will see some or all of the following:

Simulation Date Selector

The simulation date determines which day's data you are viewing and editing. Click the date displayed in the header to open the date picker. Selecting a new date reloads all views to reflect that day's tasks, staff availability, and allocations.

The Dashboard provides a real-time overview of workforce status for the selected simulation date. It is the default landing page after sign-in and presents a summary of capacity and demand.

KPI Cards

Allocation Summary Table

Below the KPI cards, the allocation summary table breaks down staffing numbers by workforce category (Structural Systems, Mechanical Systems, Electrical & Electronic, Interior & Auxiliary, Surface Treatment). Each row displays staff assigned, tasks requiring coverage, and coverage percentage.

Demand Filter by Workforce Category

Use the category filter dropdown above the KPI cards to narrow demand figures to a specific workforce category.

The Staff Roster is the central personnel management view. Here you maintain a list of all maintenance staff, their skills, availability, and work schedules.

Adding Staff

1. Navigate to the Staff Roster tab.
2. Click the Add Staff button.
3. Fill in the required fields: Name, Staff ID, Strength (primary skill), and Type.
4. Configure off-day patterns if applicable.
5. Save the new staff record.

Staff Fields

Daily Strength View

The daily strength view displays how many staff members are available for each discipline on the selected simulation date, accounting for off-days and leave patterns.

The Customize Strengths tool allows you to rename, add, or remove component-level entries within each of the five workforce categories. Changes propagate to the project tree structure and to the Roster Builder module.

Accessing the Tool

1. Open the Planning menu from the top navigation bar.
2. Select Tools.
3. Click Customize Strengths.

The Strength Manager modal will open, displaying all five workforce categories with their current component names.

Modal Layout

The modal presents each workforce category as a collapsible group with a coloured header matching the category colour used throughout the framework:

Editing Components

Each component is shown as an editable text input. You can perform the following operations within the modal:

Saving & Resetting

How Changes Propagate

When you save a custom strength configuration:

1. The configuration is stored in local storage under the key ca_strength_config.
2. All component-level nodes in the active project tree are updated to reflect the new names.
3. When the Roster Builder is opened from the main application, the custom configuration is automatically passed via the URL, ensuring the Strength dropdown in the Roster Builder displays the customized component names.
4. Staff members assigned to a renamed component retain their assignment under the new name.

The Allocation Matrix is the core simulation instrument for modelling staff-to-task assignments. It provides a grid view where rows represent available staff and columns represent active tasks on the selected simulation date.

How the Matrix Works

Coverage HUD

The Coverage HUD at the top of the matrix shows real-time statistics as assignments are modelled. It displays total staff assigned, tasks covered, and overall coverage percentage. The HUD updates instantly as radio buttons are clicked.

Filters

• Category Filter — Show only tasks belonging to a specific workforce category.
• Unallocated Only — Show only staff not yet assigned to a task.
• Search — Search for specific staff members or tasks by name.

Auto-Allocator

Standby Column

The matrix includes a Standby column. Staff modelled as standby represent available capacity not committed to a specific task in the simulation.

The Team Clusters view provides a visual summary of how staff are grouped and modelled within the current simulation date.

View Modes

• Group by Skill — Staff organized by primary discipline (Structural Systems, Mechanical Systems, Electrical & Electronic, Interior & Auxiliary, Surface Treatment). Useful for evaluating whether each discipline has adequate modelled coverage.
• Group by Asset — Staff organized by the asset they are modelled against. Shows team composition per maintenance event in the simulation.

Cluster Cards

Each cluster card displays team members modelled against that group or asset for the selected date, along with their skill type and modelled task assignment.

Standby Pool

The Standby Pool section shows all staff modelled as standby for the day, representing unallocated capacity within the simulation.

The Plan Summary provides a consolidated analytical report of the current simulation state, aggregating data from the Project Structure, Staff Roster, and Allocation Matrix.

Summary Contents

• Per-asset demand totals with category breakdown
• Staffing levels by discipline and date
• Task completion status and coverage metrics
• Manhour totals: planned versus allocated
• Outstanding gaps and unallocated tasks

Export

The Plan Summary can be exported for offline review via the export button at the top of the summary view.

The Broadcast Order generates a simulated allocation summary based on the current modelled assignments. It presents a structured view of how workforce capacity maps to tasks under the active simulation scenario.

View Modes

Email Export

Click the Email button to generate a pre-formatted email containing the simulation summary. This opens your default email client with the content formatted for review.

Display Mode

Click the Display button to open the simulation summary in a full-screen visualisation view for large monitors. See Section 17: Display Mode for details.

The Forecast instrument provides forward-looking capacity analysis, allowing visualization of how workforce supply and maintenance demand will evolve over a defined time range.

Selection Modal

When you open the Forecast, a selection modal appears with the following options:

• Time Range — Define start and end dates for the forecast window.
• Visualization Method — Choose how data is displayed: Grid, Timeline, or Heatmap.
• Discipline Filter — Filter to a specific workforce category or view all categories combined.

Three Visualizations

Interpreting Results

The Analytics view provides statistical breakdowns of planning data through interactive charts and drill-down panels. Opens in a separate satellite window.

Stats Summary Bar

At the top, the stats summary bar displays total staff, total manhours planned, manhours allocated, and overall utilization rate.

Drill-Down Panels

Click on any summary metric or chart element to drill down into the underlying data. Drill-down panels show which projects, assets, categories, or staff members contribute to the selected metric.

Category Breakdowns

Charts show performance metrics broken down by workforce category (Structural Systems, Mechanical Systems, Electrical & Electronic, Interior & Auxiliary, Surface Treatment), enabling comparison of utilization, coverage, and demand distribution across disciplines.

Project-Mode Timeline

The project-mode timeline averaging displays a chronological view of demand across the full duration of active projects, highlighting overlapping work packages.

The Load Shaping Console is a planning instrument that allows workload redistribution by adjusting when asset maintenance windows occur. By shifting maintenance windows along a timeline, users can evaluate alternative demand distributions while preserving total manhour constraints. Opens in a separate satellite window.

How It Works

Scenarios

1. Save Scenario: After making adjustments, save the current arrangement as a named scenario for later comparison.
2. Compare Scenarios: Open multiple saved scenarios side by side to evaluate which arrangement produces the most favorable demand distribution.
3. Apply Scenario: When satisfied, apply the scenario to push updated maintenance windows back to the Project Structure.

Syncing Changes

When a scenario is applied, date changes propagate back to the Project Structure tab. All affected tasks, activities, and groups will have their dates updated to reflect the new maintenance window positions. Review the Plan Summary after applying to confirm the updated schedule.

Display Mode presents the simulated allocation summary in a large-format visualisation designed for presentation on external monitors. It provides a high-visibility readout of the modelled workforce distribution. Opens in a separate satellite window.

Features

• Auto-Pagination — When content exceeds the screen, the view automatically cycles through pages at a configurable interval.
• Category Bands — Modelled assignments are organized by discipline category with clear visual bands.
• Standby Summary — A scrolling summary at the bottom displays all staff modelled as standby.

Configuration

Before entering Display Mode, configure:

• Date — Select which simulation day's assignments to display.
• View Mode — Choose between Minimal, Standard, or Full detail.

User Management allows administrators to view, configure, and manage user accounts and their associated roles within the framework.

Account Provisioning

New user accounts are created through the administrative interface. The administrator assigns the appropriate role, which determines the user's access level within the framework.

Linking Staff Records

Administrators can link staff roster entries to user accounts. This associates a user's login identity with their staff record, enabling personalized views and permission enforcement.

Role Reference

The User Management view includes a quick-reference panel listing all 13 roles with their access levels. See Section 6: User Roles for the full breakdown.

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha supports importing and exporting data to facilitate setup and backup workflows.

Importing Projects from Excel (.xlsx)

1. Navigate to the Project Structure tab.
2. Click the Import button in the toolbar.
3. Select your Excel (.xlsx) file from the file browser.
4. The system will parse the file and display a preview of the structure to be imported.
5. Review the preview and click Confirm Import to load the data.

Importing from CSV

CSV import follows the same workflow. The file must use the correct column format described below.

Template Format

Baseline Save and Restore

The Baseline feature allows saving a snapshot of the current plan as a reference point. Click Save Baseline to capture the current state. Use Restore Baseline to revert to a previously saved snapshot.

This section provides a step-by-step workflow for setting up a complete simulation scenario by importing both project data and manpower records into CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha.

Overview

A complete simulation requires two data sets: a project structure (tasks with dates, manhours, and workforce category assignments) and a staff roster (personnel with skills, availability, and off-day patterns). The workflow below guides you through importing both.

Phase 1 — Prepare Your Project File

Create an Excel (.xlsx) or CSV file with the following hierarchy and columns:

Phase 2 — Import the Project

1. Log in to CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha and navigate to the Project Structure tab.
2. Click the Import button in the toolbar.
3. Select your prepared Excel (.xlsx) or CSV file from the file browser.
4. The system parses the file and displays a preview of the project hierarchy.
5. Review the preview for correctness — verify node names, dates, and manhour values.
6. Click Confirm Import to load the project into the framework.
7. The project tree populates with all nodes. Verify the structure by expanding each level.

Phase 3 — Prepare Your Manpower File

Manpower data can be entered directly in the Staff Roster or imported via the Roster Builder module. The Roster Builder accepts CSV files with the following fields:

Phase 4 — Import Manpower via Roster Builder

1. Open the Roster Builder from Planning → Tools → Roster Builder, or from the Staff Roster toolbar.
2. If you have customized strengths in the main application, they are automatically loaded into the Roster Builder.
3. Click Import CSV and select your prepared manpower CSV file.
4. The Roster Builder parses the file and populates the roster table with all staff entries.
5. Review the imported records — verify disciplines, strengths, and off-day patterns.
6. Make any adjustments (edit fields, reassign disciplines, or remove entries) directly in the Roster Builder.
7. Click Push to App to export the roster as a CSV formatted for the main application.
8. In the main application, navigate to the Staff Roster tab.
9. Use the Import function to load the exported CSV into the staff roster.

Phase 5 — Verify the Simulation

1. Navigate to the Dashboard and select a simulation date within your project date range.
2. Verify that demand figures appear for the active tasks on that date.
3. Check that staff capacity is reflected correctly, accounting for off-days.
4. Open the Allocation Matrix and confirm that staff members are listed under the correct workforce categories.
5. Model a test allocation by assigning staff to tasks and observe the coverage metrics update in real time.

Common Issues

The Roster Builder is a dedicated feature module for detailed manpower analysis and team composition planning. It provides a comprehensive environment for building, organising, and analysing staffing rosters before pushing them into the main simulation framework.

Accessing the Roster Builder

1. From the main application, open Planning → Tools → Roster Builder.
2. The Roster Builder opens in a new browser tab.
3. If customized strengths have been configured in the main application, they are automatically loaded.

Interface Layout

The Roster Builder interface consists of three areas:

Member Fields

Each roster member record captures 15 fields for comprehensive personnel profiling:

Discipline Management

Disciplines are user-defined categories that organise staff by trade or specialisation. The sidebar panel provides full discipline lifecycle management.

Strength Dropdown Behaviour

The Strength field dynamically adapts based on the selected discipline:

Statistics Ribbon

The stats ribbon above the roster table provides real-time aggregate analytics:

Search and Filtering

Data Import & Export

Push to App

The Push to App function bridges the Roster Builder to the main CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha application. It transforms roster data into the format expected by the Staff Roster in the main application.

1. Click Push to App in the Roster Builder footer.
2. A confirmation modal displays the number of members to be exported.
3. Confirm to generate the export. The system produces a CSV file (roster_staff_import.csv).
4. In the main application, navigate to the Staff Roster tab.
5. Use the Import function to load the generated CSV.

Push to App Field Mapping

Data Persistence

Roster Builder data is stored in the browser's local storage under the keys rb_disciplines and rb_roster. Data persists across browser sessions until explicitly cleared. Use the Save Roster (JSON export) function to create portable backups.

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha evaluates each simulation scenario by comparing daily demand against declared capacity for each workforce category. The evaluation is fully deterministic: identical inputs produce identical outputs.

Feasibility Determination

For each simulation day t, the framework computes:

• Demand W(t) — Total manhours required by all active tasks on day t, derived from task-level definitions and duration boundaries.
• Capacity C(t) — Total manhours available from declared workforce on day t, accounting for off-days and availability.

A day is classified as feasible when W(t) ≤ C(t), and infeasible when W(t) > C(t). This evaluation is performed independently for each workforce category and in aggregate.

Redistribution Effects

When maintenance windows are shifted (via the Load Shaping Console or date edits in Project Structure), total effort is preserved while daily demand profiles change. The framework recomputes feasibility across all affected dates, enabling users to compare scenarios and identify constraint violations.

What the Framework Does Not Do

• Does not recommend or select an optimal schedule
• Does not apply heuristic or probabilistic adjustments
• Does not modify user inputs or structural definitions automatically
• Does not guarantee that any scenario is operationally implementable

Framework Architecture

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha is a static web application. All computation, modelling, and simulation logic is executed entirely on the host device within the user's browser. There is no server-side processing, no backend computation, and no remote execution of framework logic.

Data Storage

All project data, staff records, allocation models, and simulation state are stored locally in the browser's storage on the host device. Data does not leave the user's machine during normal operation. Users are solely responsible for backing up their data.

Telemetry & Tracking

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha does not include any telemetry, analytics, tracking scripts, or usage monitoring of any kind. The framework does not collect, transmit, or report user activity, session data, or behavioural information. No cookies are used for tracking purposes.

Third-Party Libraries

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha uses the following open-source libraries. These are loaded from public CDN services at runtime and are not modified or redistributed by the framework.

Framework Code

All framework logic, simulation algorithms, interface code, and styling outside of the above third-party libraries is original work. All intellectual property rights associated with the framework code are reserved.

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha is a simulation framework for analytical and academic evaluation. Users should understand the following boundaries when interpreting framework outputs.

What This Framework Is

• A deterministic workload simulation instrument
• A constrained scenario evaluation tool
• An analytical modelling environment for structured maintenance planning
• A research-oriented framework for feasibility analysis under declared constraints

What This Framework Is Not

• Not a certified regulatory system or conformance verification tool
• Not an operational authority or approved planning platform
• Not a replacement for governance, regulatory decision-making, or professional judgement
• Not a guarantee of operational outcomes or scheduling viability

Below are answers to common questions and solutions to frequently encountered situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Browser Compatibility

If you require assistance with CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha, use the appropriate support channel based on the nature of the issue.

Support Channels

• Account & Access Issues — Contact your administrator for role assignments, account provisioning, and credential management.
• Framework Issues — For framework errors, unexpected behavior, data issues, or feature requests, contact the CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha support team through your organization's designated channel.

When Contacting Support

To assist resolution, please provide:

• Your name and role in the framework
• A description of the issue or error message
• Steps taken before the issue occurred
• Browser name and version
• Screenshots, if applicable

Version Information

CA V9.2.1 Pre Alpha incorporates the following open-source libraries. These libraries are vendored locally within the application and loaded without any external network calls. No runtime dependencies on external servers or CDNs exist.

Chart.js

SheetJS (XLSX)

Font Awesome Free

Font Awesome Free is distributed under three licenses:

License Summary

All third-party libraries used in this framework are distributed under permissive open-source licenses that allow use, modification, and redistribution for both non-commercial and commercial purposes, subject to attribution requirements. No additional permissions are required beyond retaining the original license headers and providing acknowledgement in documentation.