Method, system, and computer software program product for analyzing the efficiency of a complex process

A system for analyzing a workload schedule for a complex process with respect to resources available therefor, said system comprising:

• a computer device comprising:
• a first processing portion configured to identify a plurality of projects comprising the complex process, each project having a start date and a cycle time and further comprising at least one task;
• a second processing portion configured to determine a hands-on work time required for each task, the tasks including a task requiring a greatest hands-on work time;
• a third processing portion configured to determine an effort equivalence for each task by normalizing each task hands-on work time with respect to the task hands-on work time of the task requiring the greatest hands-on work time;
• a fourth processing portion configured to define a calendar having intervals;
• a fifth processing portion configured to arrange the projects according to the start date and the cycle time and with respect to the calendar such that each task is at least partially performed in one of the intervals;
• a sixth processing portion configured to determine an effort equivalence apportionment for the intervals corresponding to the tasks at least partially performed in respective intervals;
• a seventh processing portion configured to determine a total effort equivalence for each interval corresponding to the sum of the effort equivalence apportionment for the tasks at least partially performed in that interval;
• an eighth processing portion configured to compare the total effort equivalence for each interval to a historical maximum effort equivalence volume so as to evaluate the workload schedule with respect to the available resources;
• and
• a ninth processing portion configured to direct the modification of the projects, where the total effort equivalence for an interval exceeds the historical maximum effort equivalence volume, so as to reapportion the total effort equivalences such that the total effort equivalence for each interval is no greater than the historical maximum effort equivalence volume, and thereby providing a relatively more efficient utilization of the available resources with respect to the workload schedule.

A computer software program product capable of being executed within a computer device, the computer software program product for analyzing a workload schedule for a complex process with respect to resources available therefor, said computer software program product comprising:

• a first executable portion capable of identifying a plurality of projects comprising the complex process, each project having a start date and a cycle time and further comprising at least one task;
• a second executable portion capable of determining a hands-on work time required for each task, the tasks including a task requiring a greatest hands-on work time;
• a third executable portion capable of determining an effort equivalence for each task by normalizing each task hands-on work time with respect to the task hands-on work time of the task requiring the greatest hands-on work time;
• a fourth executable portion capable of defining a calendar having intervals;
• a fifth executable portion capable of arranging the projects according to the start date and the cycle time and with respect to the calendar such that each task is at least partially performed in one of the intervals;
• a sixth executable portion capable of determining an effort equivalence apportionment for the intervals corresponding to the tasks at least partially performed in respective intervals;
• a seventh executable portion capable of determining a total effort equivalence for each interval corresponding to the sum of the effort equivalence apportionment for the tasks at least partially performed in that interval;
• an eighth executable portion capable of comparing the total effort equivalence for each interval to a historical maximum effort equivalence volume so as to evaluate the workload schedule with respect to the available resources;
• and
• a ninth executable portion capable of directing the modification of the projects, where the total effort equivalence for an interval exceeds the historical maximum effort equivalence volume, so as to reapportion the total effort equivalences such that the total effort equivalence for each interval is no greater than the historical maximum effort equivalence volume, and thereby providing a relatively more efficient utilization of the available resources with respect to the workload schedule.

A method of analyzing productivity within a complex process with respect to a workload schedule being performed by a total production full-time equivalent (FTE) worker headcount, said method comprising:

• identifying a plurality of projects comprising the complex process, each project having a start date and a cycle time and further comprising at least one task;
• determining a hands-on work time required for each task, the tasks including a task requiring a greatest hands-on work time;
• determining an effort equivalence for each task by normalizing each task hands-on work time with respect to the task hands-on work time of the task requiring the greatest hands-on work time;
• defining a calendar having intervals;
• arranging the projects according to the start date and the cycle time and with respect to the calendar such that each task is at least partially performed in one of the intervals;
• determining an effort equivalence apportionment for the intervals corresponding to the tasks at least partially performed in respective intervals;
• determining a total effort equivalence for each interval corresponding to the sum of the effort equivalence apportionment for the tasks at least partially performed in that interval;
• determining a productivity measure for a productivity measurement period by dividing the total effort equivalence by the total production FTE worker headcount and the productivity measurement period, the productivity measurement period comprising at least a portion of an interval;
• comparing the productivity measure to a productivity capacity limit over the productivity measurement period, the productivity capacity limit comprising at least a percentage of a historical maximum productivity capacity with respect to the resources available therefor, so as to evaluate the workload schedule with respect to an empirical personnel capacity for the tasks comprising the projects;
• and
• modifying the projects, where the productivity measure exceeds the productivity capacity limit for the productivity measurement period, such that the productivity measure over the productivity measurement period is no greater than the productivity capacity limit so as to thereby provide a relatively more efficient utilization of the empirical personnel capacity for the tasks comprising the projects with respect to the workload schedule.

A system for analyzing productivity within a complex process with respect to a workload schedule being performed by a total production full-time equivalent (FTE) worker headcount, said system comprising:

• a computer device comprising:
• a first processing portion configured to identify a plurality of projects comprising the complex process, each project having a start date and a cycle time and further comprising at least one task;
• a second processing portion configured to determine a hands-on work time required for each task, the tasks including a task requiring a greatest hands-on work time;
• a third processing portion configured to determine an effort equivalence for each task by normalizing each task hands-on work time with respect to the task hands-on work time of the task requiring the greatest hands-on work time;
• a fourth processing portion configured to define a calendar having intervals;
• a fifth processing portion configured to arrange the projects according to the start date and the cycle time and with respect to the calendar such that each task is at least partially performed in one of the intervals;
• a sixth processing portion configured to determine an effort equivalence apportionment for the intervals corresponding to the tasks at least partially performed in respective intervals;
• a seventh processing portion configured to determine a total effort equivalence for each interval corresponding to the sum of the effort equivalence apportionment for the tasks at least partially performed in that interval;
• an eighth processing portion configured to determine a productivity measure for a productivity measurement period by dividing the total effort equivalence by the total production FTE worker headcount and the productivity measurement period, the productivity measurement period comprising at least a portion of an interval;
• a ninth processing portion configured to compare the productivity measure to a productivity capacity limit over the productivity measurement period, the productivity capacity limit comprising at least a percentage of a historical maximum productivity capacity with respect to the resources available therefor, so as to evaluate the workload schedule with respect to an empirical personnel capacity for the tasks comprising the projects;
• and
• a tenth processing portion configured to direct the modification of the projects, where the productivity measure exceeds the productivity capacity limit for the productivity measurement period, such that the productivity measure over the productivity measurement period is no greater than the productivity capacity limit so as to thereby provide a relatively more efficient utilization of the empirical personnel capacity for the tasks comprising the projects with respect to the workload schedule.

A computer software program product capable of being executed within a computer device, the computer software program product for analyzing productivity within a complex process with respect to a workload schedule being performed by a total production full-time equivalent (FTE) worker headcount, said computer software program product comprising:

• a first executable portion capable of identifying a plurality of projects comprising the complex process, each project having a start date and a cycle time and further comprising at least one task;
• a second executable portion capable of determining a hands-on work time required for each task, the tasks including a task requiring a greatest hands-on work time;
• a third executable portion capable of determining an effort equivalence for each task by normalizing each task hands-on work time with respect to the task hands-on work time of the task requiring the greatest hands-on work time;
• a fourth executable portion capable of defining a calendar having intervals;
• a fifth executable portion capable of arranging the projects according to the start date and the cycle time and with respect to the calendar such that each task is at least partially performed in one of the intervals;
• a sixth executable portion capable of determining an effort equivalence apportionment for the intervals corresponding to the tasks at least partially performed in respective intervals;
• a seventh executable portion capable of determining a total effort equivalence for each interval corresponding to the sum of the effort equivalence apportionment for the tasks at least partially performed in that interval;
• an eighth executable portion capable of determining a productivity measure for a productivity measurement period by dividing the total effort equivalence by the total production FTE worker headcount and the productivity measurement period, the productivity measurement period comprising at least a portion of an interval;
• a ninth executable portion capable of comparing the productivity measure to a productivity capacity limit over the productivity measurement period, the productivity capacity limit comprising at least a percentage of a historical maximum productivity capacity with respect to the resources available therefor, so as to evaluate the workload schedule with respect to an empirical personnel capacity for the tasks comprising the projects;
• and
• a tenth executable portion capable of directing the modification of the projects, where the productivity measure exceeds the productivity capacity limit for the productivity measurement period, such that the productivity measure over the productivity measurement period is no greater than the productivity capacity limit so as to thereby provide a relatively more efficient utilization of the empirical personnel capacity for the tasks comprising the projects with respect to the workload schedule.