Run-Time Workflow Assignment for Dynamic Staff Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional workflow generation systems lack flexibility to adapt dynamically to unexpected changes in workflow requirements or staff availability, often leading to inefficient and unsuitable assignments of employees, particularly in dynamic environments like security patrol services.
Innovation Solution
An automated run-time workflow assignment system that generates and updates workflows in real-time or near real-time based on a master plan, utilizing quantitative and qualitative attributes of employees and workflow requirements, and assigns employees accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional workflow generation systems are used, then workflow assignments can be made, but the system lacks flexibility to adapt dynamically to unexpected changes in workflow requirements or staff availability
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow assignment system transitions from static pre-generated assignments to dynamic run-time generation. The system continuously monitors staff availability and workflow requirements, automatically regenerating assignments in response to changes. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt to unexpected changes in real-time, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and assignment suitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops by monitoring staff availability status and workflow requirements changes. When changes are detected, the system automatically triggers workflow regeneration and reassignment processes. This feedback mechanism ensures the system maintains reliability while adapting dynamically to changing conditions.
2Productivity
If manual workflow management is used, then assignments can be made, but the process is inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow assignment system operates autonomously by automatically monitoring changes in staff availability and workflow requirements, generating new assignments, and distributing them without human intervention. This self-service capability eliminates manual management overhead, significantly improving productivity while reducing the time required for the assignment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical workflow management processes with automated computational processes. Algorithms automatically analyze availability data, generate optimal assignments, and distribute them electronically. This substitution of mechanical manual processes with automated systems dramatically improves efficiency and reduces time loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If static workflow assignments are made, then initial planning is simple, but the system cannot respond to real-time changes in staff availability or workflow requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow assignment system is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple functions: monitoring staff availability, detecting workflow requirement changes, generating assignments, and distributing them. This multi-functional design enables the system to respond to real-time changes while managing complexity through integration of functions into a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as staff availability status and workflow requirements based on real-time data. By continuously updating these parameters and automatically regenerating assignments in response to parameter changes, the system achieves high adaptability without requiring complex manual intervention for each change.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present application relate to systems and methods for generating run-time workflows and assigning employees to the workflows by identifying attributes for each workflow. The workflow assignment can include determining a master plan, processing the master plan to generate a hierarchical data structure, periodically identifying workflows based on the lowest level of the data structure, determining attributes for each workflow in each period, and determining available employees for each workflow identified at each period.