US 8,510,144 B1 · Method and apparatus for cell-based workforce scheduling

Abstract

A method for workforce scheduling by a computer system is provided. The method includes receiving a first workforce schedule describing initial assignments of a plurality of workers to a plurality of shifts, each shift comprising one or more work activities, each work activity comprising an activity and a time interval, and storing the first workforce schedule in a memory. The method also includes receiving a cell size associated with each activity, and determining a quantity of workers in each work activity associated with each activity in the first workforce schedule. The method further includes determining cell size violations by dividing the quantity of workers assigned to each work activity by the cell size for the activity associated with the work activity. The method also includes modifying the first workforce schedule to minimize cell size violations, resulting in a second workforce schedule, and storing the second workforce schedule in the memory.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer implemented method for operating a computer system as a cell-based workforce scheduler to minimize occurrences of broken cells, the method comprising:

Generating by means of a processor, a first workforce schedule having a global score and comprising a plurality of cells, each cell requiring a defined number of workers;
Identifying, by means of a processor at least one target cell of the plurality of cells that is broken such that the target cell fails to have the defined number of workers scheduled;
identifying by means of a processor a plurality of repair solutions to resolve the target cell such that the target cell will have the defined number of workers scheduled;
and,
selecting by means of a processor one of the plurality of repair solutions with which to modify the first workforce schedule based on an impact of each of the plurality of repair solutions on the global score;
providing to a user by means of a processor, a modified workforce schedule based on the selected repair solution.

3 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions for cell scheduling of a workforce to minimize occurrences of broken cells, that when executed by a computer processor, direct the computer processor to:

generate a first workforce schedule having a global score and comprising a plurality of cells, each cell requiring a defined number of workers;
identify at least one target cell of the plurality of cells that is broken such that the target cell fails to have the defined number of workers scheduled;
identify a plurality of repair solutions to resolve the target cell such that the target cell will have the defined number of workers scheduled;
select one of the plurality of repair solutions with which to modify the first workforce schedule based on an impact of each of the plurality of repair solutions on the global score;
and
provide to a user, a modified workforce schedule based on the selected repair solution.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for cell-based workforce scheduling

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for cell-based workforce scheduling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20