Labor and resource scheduling system
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of automated scheduling of labor and resources, comprising:
- producing a data set defining time parameters for resources and locations of the facility based upon a time and motion study analysis of the facility;
for a set of orders to be fulfilled utilizing the facility, determining a plurality of schedulable assignments for tasks using the resources to accomplish the orders, the schedulable assignments having times and durations determined based at least in part upon the time parameters defined in the data set; and
scheduling the schedulable assignments in a plurality of work shifts of employees of the facility during a work period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated labor and resource scheduling system provides automated assistance to scheduling managers for scheduling labor and resources to host and service events at a facility. The automated scheduling is based on on real time and motion analysis, resulting in realistic and clearly defined productivity expectations. It assists management in minimizing labor costs for events of any size, while providing greater confidence that proper staffing guidelines are in place to cover all bases. The automated scheduling helps eliminate guess work involved in manual scheduling, and more readily identifies near optimum labor margins. The scheduling system also provides employees itineraries with clear expectations, along with a map which charts the flow of events, resulting in improved performance, labor expense savings, and enhanced communication in the scheduling process.
117 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of automated scheduling of labor and resources, comprising:
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producing a data set defining time parameters for resources and locations of the facility based upon a time and motion study analysis of the facility;
for a set of orders to be fulfilled utilizing the facility, determining a plurality of schedulable assignments for tasks using the resources to accomplish the orders, the schedulable assignments having times and durations determined based at least in part upon the time parameters defined in the data set; and
scheduling the schedulable assignments in a plurality of work shifts of employees of the facility during a work period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer readable data storage media having a labor and resource scheduling software program stored thereon executable on a computer system to perform a method of automated scheduling of labor and resources, the method comprising:
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producing a data set defining time parameters for resources and locations of the facility based upon a time and motion study analysis of the facility;
for a set of orders to be fulfilled utilizing the facility, determining a plurality of schedulable assignments for tasks using the resources to accomplish the orders, the schedulable assignments having times and durations determined based at least in part upon the time parameters defined in the data set; and
scheduling the schedulable assignments in a plurality of work shifts of employees of the facility during a work period.
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6. In a computer, a method of automated scheduling of labor and resources, comprising:
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generating a data set defining timing parameters for a collection of locations and a collection of resources specific to a facility based on a time and distance study analysis of the facility, the timing parameters including at least timings to move a unit of the collection of resources between various pairings of the locations;
receiving input of a plurality of order units for work to be performed utilizing the resources and the locations in the facility;
generating a plurality of schedulable tasks for accomplishing the order units;
determining times and durations for the tasks based on the data set;
scheduling employees for a number of work shifts during a period sufficient to accomplish the tasks according to the determined times and durations;
assigning the tasks to the scheduled work shifts; and
presenting an employee itinerary report listing tasks assigned for the work shifts.
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7. A computer implemented method of scheduling labor and resources to fulfill event orders for a facility, comprising:
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configuring resource and location definition data sets having timing parameters for groups of resources and locations of the facility, the timing parameters including at least parameters defining time to move resources between various locations of the facility, and time to perform set-up, preparation, tear-down and/or cleaning of the respective resources;
receiving data input defining a plurality of orders for events at the facility;
selecting resources to be utilized for the events;
determining a plurality of tasks for utilizing the resources to fill the event orders, the tasks having times and durations based upon the timing parameters;
scheduling the tasks into work shifts according to the times and durations; and
producing a shift schedule report detailing tasks assigned to be performed for the shifts. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer readable storage media having a computer-executable software program stored thereon operable upon execution on a computer to perform a method of scheduling labor and resources to fulfill event orders for a facility, the method comprising:
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configuring resource and location definition data sets having timing parameters for groups of resources and locations of the facility, the timing parameters including at least parameters defining time to move resources between various locations of the facility, and time to perform set-up, preparation, tear-down and/or cleaning of the respective resources;
receiving data input defining a plurality of orders for events at the facility;
selecting resources to be utilized for the events;
determining a plurality of tasks for utilizing the resources to fill the event orders, the tasks having times and durations based upon the timing parameters;
scheduling the tasks into work shifts according to the times and durations; and
producing a shift schedule report detailing tasks assigned to be performed for the shifts.
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11. A computer implemented method of assigning shifts and tasks to employees, the method comprising:
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configuring a data set representing results from a time and motion study of resources and areas to be utilized in fulfilling orders at a facility;
receiving data defining a set of orders to be filled within a period of time at the facility;
determining a set of tasks to provide the resources for fulfilling the defined orders with time constraints based upon the data set; and
scheduling the tasks into a plurality of shifts of employees to meet the time constraints. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer-executable-program operating upon execution on a computer to perform a method of assigning shifts and tasks to employees, the method comprising:
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configuring a data set representing results from a time and motion study of resources and areas to be utilized in fulfilling orders at a facility;
receiving data defining a set of orders to be filled within a period of time at the facility;
determining a set of tasks to provide the resources for fulfilling the defined orders with time constraints based upon the data set; and
scheduling the tasks into a plurality of shifts of employees to meet the time constraints. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-implemented method of assigning shifts of tasks including service and set-up and tear down of resources to employees, comprising:
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producing a data set representing results of a time and motion study for service tasks and setup/teardown of resources performed at a facility;
receiving input of orders for events to be scheduled at the facility during a period;
determining schedulable assignments based upon scheduled events and timing of service tasks and setup/teardown of resources based on the time and motion study results data set;
selecting one or more employees to perform the schedulable assignments; and
assigning the assignments and the employees to shifts. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer implemented method of providing clearer directions through the use of printed reports for employees in setting up, tearing down, or servicing events at a facility, the method comprising:
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receiving results from a time and motion study for service tasks and setup/teardown of resources performed at the facility;
receiving a list of events scheduled at the facility;
determining schedulable assignments based upon scheduled events and timing of service tasks and setup/teardown of resources;
selecting employees for the assignments; and
printing at least one report having information designating the assignments for the employees, including required actions and time for completion for the assignments.
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39. A computer implemented method of reducing labor costs for event hosting, the method comprising:
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receiving results from a time and motion study for service tasks and setup/teardown of resources performed at a facility;
receiving a list of events scheduled at the facility;
determining schedulable assignments based upon scheduled events and time to perform the service tasks and setup/teardown of resources based on the results;
scheduling employees to perform the assignments;
performing at least one labor cost optimization of the schedule to reduce overall event labor costs;
determining a performance measure of the labor costs of the events; and
producing a report indicating the performance measure. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification