Customized Scheduling Calendar for Dynamic Shift Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional scheduling systems are inflexible and inefficient in managing shift schedules, particularly in industries requiring specific skills or certifications, as they fail to accommodate dynamic shift requests and qualified worker availability, leading to manual and time-consuming processes for finding replacements.

Innovation Solution

A customized scheduling calendar system that allows users to select a preferred starting day and duration, integrated with a schedule management application to automatically identify and assign qualified workers, providing a dynamic and efficient solution for shift coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional scheduling systems are used to manage shift schedules, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but the system becomes inflexible and inefficient in accommodating dynamic shift requests and qualified worker availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in accommodating shift requestsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling system transitions from static, pre-defined schedules to dynamic schedules that automatically adjust in real-time based on worker availability, shift requests, and qualification matching. The system continuously updates schedule assignments as conditions change, enabling flexible accommodation of dynamic shift requests while maintaining systematic control through automated algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Workers can directly submit shift requests and availability updates through the system, and the system automatically processes these requests by matching workers to appropriate shifts based on qualifications and availability. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual supervisor intervention in routine scheduling adjustments, improving flexibility while keeping the system manageable through automated rule-based processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If manual processes are used to find replacement workers, then the system complexity is low, but the time required to find qualified replacements increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to find replacement workersVSAvoidautomation level in shift filling

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of supervisors contacting workers individually is replaced with an automated electronic system that uses algorithms to match workers to shifts based on qualifications, availability, and preferences. The system automatically queries the database, evaluates matching criteria, and assigns shifts without human intervention, dramatically reducing the time to find qualified replacements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-identifies and ranks potential replacement workers based on their qualifications and availability before a shift actually needs filling. By maintaining updated profiles of worker capabilities and availability in advance, the system can quickly present pre-screened candidates when a replacement is needed, eliminating the time-consuming process of searching for qualified workers at the last minute.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional calendars are used for scheduling, then the interface is simple and familiar to users, but the calendar cannot provide customized views for different work week starting days or flexible time durations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization of calendar viewVSAvoiduser interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The calendar system allows different local customizations for different users or departments, such as different work week starting days (Monday vs. Sunday), different time durations (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly views), and different level of detail displays. Each user can configure the calendar to match their specific workflow preferences while the underlying system maintains a unified scheduling database.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling calendar is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays traditional fixed schedules, accommodates flexible shift requests, tracks worker availability, monitors qualification matching, and provides various view options (different start days, time durations). This multi-functionality allows a single system to replace multiple separate tools while maintaining ease of use through consistent interface patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20230385774A1Methods for creating a customized scheduling calendar and devices thereof

Publication Date: 2023.11.30 SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA INC

AI summary

A method creating a customized scheduling calendar includes receiving, by a computing device, a selection of a day and a time duration. A customized schedule calendar interface including a work week starting from the received selection of the day for the received time duration is generated by the computing device. The generated customized schedule calendar interface is then provided by the computing device.