Computer system for monitoring actual performance to standards in real time

• US 20050216331A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ahrens, Bruce, Cartier, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for conducting a management session between a supervisor and an employee or other subordinate. The system utilizes a handheld personal computer that is programmed with multiple supervisory functions, which are displayed in an integrated format to reduce the number of supervisory sessions required for a given employee. The system also provides for the capture and storage of automatic work measurement data, which can be integrated with other work measurement data captured by one or more sensing devices within the employee'"'"'s workspace, and performance to standards can be reviewed in real time via real-time alerts or at the end of the evaluation.

Claims

1-64. -64. (canceled)

65. A method of recording and evaluating a subordinate'"'"'s work and facilitating management activities relating to said subordinate'"'"'s work by using a portable computer, comprising:

displaying first stored data relating to a first management activity at said subordinate'"'"'s first work location;

receiving first input data relating to said displayed first stored data;

storing said first input data;

responsive to said first input data exceeding a first predetermined threshold, altering at least a portion of said display of said first stored data;

displaying second stored data relating to a second management activity at said first work location;

receiving second input data relating to said displayed second stored data;

storing said second input data;

displaying third stored data relating to said first management activity at said subordinate'"'"'s second work location;

receiving third input data relating to said displayed first stored data;

storing said third input data;

responsive to said third input data exceeding a third predetermined threshold, altering at least a portion of the display of said third stored data;

displaying fourth stored data relating to said second management activity at said second work location;

receiving fourth input data relating to said displayed fourth stored data; and

storing said fourth input data.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said first and second stored data are displayed concurrently.

67. The method of claim 65 further comprising the step of displaying a third stored data relating to a third management activity at said subordinate first work location concurrently with said first and said second stored data.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein said step of displaying said first stored data comprises displaying a plurality of methods.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said step of receiving said first input data includes receiving data representative of an actual time taken by said subordinate to perform one of said plurality of methods.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the step of altering a portion of said display comprises altering from a first color to a second color.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein said second color is one of a plurality of colors and wherein each of said colors corresponds to a priority level based on an amount by which the actual time exceeds said predetermined first threshold.

72. The method of claim 65, wherein said first management activity comprises a first training activity and said second management activity comprises a second training activity.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said first training activity is safety and said second training activity is performance.

74. The method of claim 65, wherein said input is received via a stylus or a keyboard.

75. A method of recording and evaluating a subordinate'"'"'s work and facilitating management activities relating to a subordinate'"'"'s work by using a portable computer, comprising:

displaying first stored data relating to a first management activity at said subordinate'"'"'s first work location;

receiving first input data relating to said displayed first sorted data;

storing said first input data;

responsive to said first input data exceeding a first predetermined threshold, altering at least a portion of the display of said first stored data;

displaying second stored data relating to a second management activity at said first work location;

receiving second input data relating to said displayed second stored data;

storing said second input data;

displaying said third stored data relating to a third management activity at said subordinate'"'"'s second work location;

receiving third input data relating to said third stored data;

storing said third input data;

responsive to said third input data exceeding said first predetermined threshold, altering at least a portion of the display of said first stored data;

displaying said fourth stored data relating to a management activity at said second work location;

receiving fourth input data relating to said displayed fourth stored data; and

storing said fourth input data.

76. The portable computer of claim 75, wherein said management activity related to said fourth stored data is selected from the list of first management activity, third management activity and fourth management activity.

77. A portable device for recording and evaluating a subordinate'"'"'s work, comprising:

a user interface for receiving information;

an information storage device;

a screen device for displaying information; and

a processor coupled to said user interface, said information storage device, and said screen device, said processor configured to;

store on said portable device data associated with a plurality of job elements and job methods to be performed by a subordinate over the course of a work session;

display on said portable device a first screen associated with a first job element, said first screen displaying a plurality of job methods related to said first job element;

receive input relating to at least one of said plurality of job methods; and

responsive to said input exceeding a predetermined threshold for said at least one job method, alter said display of said at least one job method.

78. The portable device of claim 77, wherein said data stored on said portable device further comprises written descriptions of said plurality of job methods.

79. The portable device of claim 77, wherein said input is responsive to a failure by said subordinate to follow said at least one job method.

80. The portable device of claim 77, wherein said input is received from a sensor positioned on a vehicle used by said subordinate during said work session.

81. A method of recording and evaluating a subordinate'"'"'s work, comprising:

storing on a portable computer data associated with a plurality of job elements and job methods to be performed by a subordinate over the course of a work session;

displaying on said portable computer a first screen associated with a first job element relating to said subordinate'"'"'s first work location, said first screen displaying a plurality of job methods associated with said first job element;

receiving at said first work location an input relating to at least one of said displayed plurality of job methods associated with said first job element;

responsive to said input relating to said at least one displayed job method exceeding an associated predetermined threshold, altering the display of said at least one job method associated with said first job element;

displaying on said portable computer a second screen associated with a second job element relating to said subordinate'"'"'s second work location, said second screen displaying a plurality of job methods associated with said second job element;

receiving at said second work location an input relating to one of said plurality of displayed job methods associated with said second job element; and

responsive to said input relating to at least one of said displayed job methods associated with said second job element exceeding a predetermined threshold, altering the display of said at least one of said displayed job methods associated with said second job element.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein a selection area is displayed in association with each job method, and the process further comprises:

selecting a job method on the first screen; and

responsive to selection of the selected job method, storing an indication the worker failed to follow the selected job method.

83. The method of claim 81, wherein the step of storing data includes storing written descriptions of the job methods.