Labor Management Module for Project Cost Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current project management tools fail to effectively manage labor costs, leading to potential cost overruns due to mismanagement, necessitating innovative technologies for labor cost management and contractor rate comparison.

Innovation Solution

A computing device with a labor management module that receives shift report data from mobile devices, determining project status and generating alert reports, and a contract tender module that compares contractor labor rates with known rates to identify excessive labor rates, using AI for efficient management and bid evaluation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual labor cost management is used, then device complexity is reduced, but labor cost management effectiveness deteriorates leading to cost overruns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidlabor cost management effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors labor costs by receiving timesheet data from mobile devices, comparing it against budget parameters, and generating alerts without requiring manual intervention. The labor management module self-manages the monitoring and comparison processes, reducing the need for complex manual oversight while improving cost management effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual labor cost tracking with an automated electronic system that uses mobile devices, data transceivers, and processing modules to collect, transmit, and analyze timesheet data. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with automated electronic systems reduces complexity while enhancing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If automated labor cost monitoring is implemented, then labor cost management effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelabor cost management effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile devices serve multiple functions: they collect timesheet data, transmit it to the server, and display progress reports. The labor management module performs multiple functions including receiving data, determining project status, comparing against budgets, and generating alerts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses mobile devices as intermediaries between workers and the central management system. These portable devices simplify the interface for data collection while the centralized processing module handles the complex analysis and comparison operations, distributing complexity appropriately across the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If real-time data collection from mobile devices is implemented, then productivity is improved, but loss of time in data transmission and processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoiddata transmission and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-estimates budget parameters before the project begins, allowing for immediate comparison against actual timesheet data as it is collected. This preliminary preparation enables real-time productivity monitoring without significant processing delays, as the comparison framework is already in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously collects and processes timesheet data in real-time as workers complete their tasks, rather than batch-processing at the end of periods. This continuous operation maintains high productivity while minimizing idle time between data collection and analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Device complexity

If contractor labor rates are manually reviewed, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of labor cost accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidlabor cost accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual rate verification with automated electronic comparison of contractor bids against established labor rate databases. The processing module automatically retrieves bid data, compares it with predetermined rates, and identifies excessive rates, significantly improving measurement precision while using relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250013985A1Computer system and computer-readable medium for project management

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 PLUMBATA INTELLIGENT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

One inventive aspect of this specification is a computing device and computer-readable medium for managing a project has a labour management module to receive shift report data from one or more mobile devices associated with one or more workers working on the project, the shift report data including an electronic timesheet and a progress report, wherein the labour management module determines a project status of the project to automatically generate an alert report and a recommendation. Another inventive aspect of this specification is a computing device and computer-readable medium having a tender contract tender module to compare contractor labour rates with known labour rates to identify excessive labour rates.