System and method for optimizing workforce engagement

• US 20090006164A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kaiser, John Joseph, Thach, Keith Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/819,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A method is provided for optimizing workplace engagement for a plurality of employees performing a plurality of tasks. The method may include receiving productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks and receiving forecasted demands for each of the plurality of tasks. The method may also include assigning one or more of the plurality of employees to one or more of the plurality of tasks. The employee task assignments may be based upon productivity data, availability data, and the forecasted demands. The method may further include determining that the forecasted demand for one of the plurality of tasks for the period of time falls below a predetermined threshold, and assigning an inexperienced employee to that one of the plurality of tasks.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing workplace engagement for a plurality of employees performing a plurality of tasks, the method comprising:

receiving productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks;

receiving forecasted demands for each of the plurality of tasks;

assigning one or more of the plurality of employees to one or more of the plurality of tasks, the employee task assignments being based upon productivity data, availability data, and the forecasted demands; and

determining that the forecasted demand for one of the plurality of tasks for the period of time falls below a predetermined threshold, and assigning an inexperienced employee to that one of the plurality of tasks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving productivity data for each of the plurality of employees includes accumulating productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein accumulating productivity data includes measuring a productivity of an employee at performing a task with a tool utilized by the employee to perform the task.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the tool includes a barcode scanner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving forecasted demands includes forecasting demands by considering information relating to at least one of shipments, production quantities, and customer demands.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes selecting an employee that has experience in one of the plurality of tasks to assist the inexperienced employee with that one of the plurality of tasks.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the productivity data includes historical data for each employee relating to each of the plurality of tasks.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tasks includes at least one of unloading, inspecting, sorting, putting away, auditing, picking, packing, loading, and shipping.

9. A computer readable medium having programming instructions for optimizing workplace engagement for a plurality of employees performing a plurality of tasks, the programming instructions comprising:

receiving productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks;

receiving forecasted demands for each of the plurality of tasks;

assigning one or more of the plurality of employees to one or more of the plurality of tasks, the employee task assignments being based upon productivity data, availability data, and the forecasted demands; and

determining that the forecasted demand for one of the plurality of tasks for the period of time falls below a predetermined threshold, and assigning an inexperienced employee to that one of the plurality of tasks.

10. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, further including displaying the employee task assignments as a schedule.

11. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tasks includes at least one of unloading, inspecting, sorting, putting away, auditing, picking, packing, loading, and shipping.

12. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, wherein receiving productivity data for each of the plurality of employees includes accumulating productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks.

13. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 12, wherein accumulating productivity data includes measuring a productivity of an employee at performing a task with a tool utilized by the employee to perform the task.

14. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 13, wherein the tool includes a hand-held barcode scanner.

15. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, wherein receiving forecasted demands for each of the plurality of tasks includes receiving a first forecasted demand and a second forecasted demand different from the forecasted demand.

16. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 15, wherein assigning one or more of the plurality of employees to one or more of the plurality of tasks includes creating a first combination of employee task assignments to match a cumulative productivity of the assigned employees to the first demand and a second combination of employee task assignments to match a cumulative productivity of the assigned employees to the second demand.

17. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, wherein receiving forecasted demands includes forecasting demands by considering information relating to at least one of shipments, production quantities, and customer demands.

18. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, further including selecting an employee that has experience in one of the plurality of tasks to assist the inexperienced employee with that one of the plurality of tasks.

19. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 9, wherein the productivity data includes historical data for each employee relating to each of the plurality of tasks.

20. A system for optimizing workplace engagement for a plurality of employees performing a plurality of tasks associated with logistical processes of a supply chain network, the system comprising:

a computer configured to receive productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks and forecasted demands for each of the plurality of tasks, wherein receiving productivity data includes accumulating productivity data by measuring a productivity of an employee at performing a task with a tool utilized by the employee to perform the task, and receiving forecasted demands includes forecasting demands by considering information relating to at least one of shipments, production quantities, and customer demands;

a database configured to store data relating to one of employee productivity, forecasted demands, and employee availability;

a program configured to perform a first algorithm for assigning one or more of the plurality of employees to one or more of the plurality of tasks, the employee task assignments being based upon productivity data, availability data, and the forecasted demands.