Executed workload

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8972276-B2
Application number	US-84716007-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2007
Priority date	Aug 29, 2007
Publication date	Mar 3, 2015
Grant date	Mar 3, 2015

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses enable generation of an executed workload electronic record. The executed workload record indicates data related to one or more performance metrics by which performance of a work task is evaluated. One such performance metric is an expected time for completion of the task. Performance of the task can be monitored to determine an actual completion time for the task to compare against an expected completion time. The executed workload record can be used for evaluation of workers. Executed workload records provide centralized, aggregatable information for evaluation purposes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, from a warehouse management system, a planning electronic record at a warehouse station computing device of a warehouse identifying a task to be performed by a warehouse worker in the warehouse where goods are processed, the planning electronic record indicating at least one performance metric by which performance of the task is evaluated including an expected amount of time for completion, the electronic record further identifying a core business task to perform that is directly related to movement or processing of goods in the warehouse;
obtaining a confirmation of completion of the task at the warehouse station computing device;
determining an actual time for completion based on a time of the confirmation;
generating, by the warehouse station computing device, an executed work electronic record based on the planning electronic record, the executed work electronic record being a warehouse document distinct from the planning electronic record, which identifies the task and performer and indicates a task performance value for at least one of the performance metrics including the actual time for completion;
storing the executed work electronic record in storage system to enable tracking and evaluation of performance of the task via the warehouse management system;
retrieving multiple executed work electronic records stored in the storage system, each retrieved record related to an evaluation period; and
aggregating performance data from the multiple executed work electronic records into a single evaluation report.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an additional electronic record identifying an indirect business task to perform, the indirect business task not being directly related to movement or processing of goods in the warehouse.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the planning electronic record comprises:
receiving a task assignment document generated in conjunction with a source document, the source document including data describing a resource related to the performance of the task.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
linking the executed work electronic record to the source document.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining information identifying a specific resource to be used in performance of the task;
adjusting the expected time for completion of the task based on a recalculation of an expected time for completion of the task using the specifically identified resource; and
storing the adjusted expected time in the executed work electronic document as the expected time for completion of the task.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
comparing the actual time of completion with the adjusted expected time for completion to determine a variance between the expected time for completion of the task and the actual time of completion of the task.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the multiple executed work electronic records related to an evaluation period comprises:
retrieving multiple executed work electronic records related to a single performer for the evaluation period.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein aggregating the performance data for the multiple executed work electronic records related to the single performer comprises:
aggregating the performance data according to an organizational unit identifier, a task type, and a task performance area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the multiple executed work electronic records related to an evaluation period comprises:
retrieving multiple executed work electronic records related to multiple different types of tasks for the evaluation period.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the actual time of completion of tasks with the expected times for completion of the corresponding tasks as indicated by the executed work electronic records to generate an evaluation indicator; and
storing the evaluation indicator in the evaluation report.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing the actual attendance of a single performer with the expected time for completion of the corresponding tasks as indicated by the executed work electronic records to generate an evaluation indicator; and
storing the evaluation indicator in the evaluation report.

12. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having content stored thereon to provide instructions to cause a machine to perform operations including:
receiving, from a warehouse management system, a planning electronic record at a warehouse station computing device of a warehouse identifying a task to be performed by a warehouse worker in the warehouse where goods are processed, the planning electronic record indicating at least one performance metric by which performance of the task is evaluated including an expected amount of time for completion, the electronic record further identifying a core business task to perform that is directly related to movement or processing of goods in the warehouse;
obtaining a confirmation of completion of the task at the warehouse station computing device;
determining an actual time for completion based on a time of the confirmation;
generating, by the warehouse station computing device, an executed work electronic record based on the planning electronic record, the executed work electronic record being a warehouse document distinct from the planning electronic record, which identifies the task and performer and indicates a task performance value for at least one of the performance metrics including the actual time for completion; and
storing the executed work electronic record in a storage system to enable tracking and evaluation of performance of the task via the warehouse management system
retrieving multiple executed work electronic records stored in the storage system, each retrieved record related to an evaluation period; and
aggregating performance data from the multiple executed work electronic records into a single evaluation report.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12 , further comprising content to provide instructions for receiving an additional electronic record identifying an indirect labor to perform, the indirect labor not being directly related to movement or processing of goods in the warehouse.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 12 , further comprising content to provide instructions for
obtaining information identifying a specific resource to be used in performance of the task;
adjusting the expected time for completion of the task based on a recalculation of an expected time for completion of the task using the specifically identified resource; and
storing the adjusted expected time in the executed work electronic document as the expected time for completion of the task.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 12 , further comprising content to provide instructions for
retrieving multiple executed work electronic records stored in the storage system, each retrieved record related to an evaluation period; and
aggregating performance data from the multiple executed work electronic records into a single evaluation report.

16. A system comprising:
a work execution station computing device of a warehouse at which a performer executes a task, and generates performance data related to performance of the task and a completion indicator to indicate completion of the task; and
a warehouse management system of the warehouse including a management server coupled to the work execution

Assignees

• Storzum Andreas
• Mandel Alexander
• Kappallo Jan
• Mueller Juergen
• Sabelfeld Wassili
• Sap Ag

Inventors

• Storzum Andreas
• Mandel Alexander
• Kappallo Jan
• Mueller Juergen
• Sabelfeld Wassili

Classifications

• G06Q10/06398

  Performance of employee with respect to a job function · CPC title

• G06Q10/10 Primary

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title