Systems and methods for worker resource management

Abstract

A worker resource management system may include a voice-directed mobile terminal that enables a dialog between a user and the voice-directed mobile terminal. At least one computer may be in communication with the mobile terminal. The computer can include a worker resource management module that receives and records user activity from the voice-directed mobile terminal. The worker resource management module can identify user productivity patterns and provide work assessment predictions based at least in part upon the user activity that is received and recorded. Management can make worker resource decisions in response to the user productivity patterns identified or the work assessment predictions provided by the worker resource management module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A worker resource management system, comprising:
 a voice-directed mobile terminal for facilitating a voice communication between a user and the voice-directed mobile terminal, wherein the user is assigned a task in one of multiple warehouse regions; and   a computer in communication with the voice-directed mobile terminal, the computer including a worker resource analysis module and a tasking module for transmitting an instruction to the voice-directed mobile terminal, wherein the worker resource analysis module is configured to:
 (i) record the voice communication between the user and the voice-directed mobile terminal with a corresponding timestamp that indicates when the voice communication occurred, based at least in part upon the voice communication received from the voice-directed mobile terminal over a communication link, 
 (ii) record user activity information from the voice-directed mobile terminal based on the recorded voice communication at the time the voice communication occurred, 
 (iii) identify user productivity patterns for the user based at least in part upon the user activity information, 
 (iv) provide an alert corresponding to the user productivity patterns at predefined intervals based on a break duration taken by the user and a break period predefined by the worker resource analysis module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a visual display in communication with the computer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the visual display provides reports corresponding to the user productivity patterns. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the visual display provides alerts corresponding to the user productivity patterns. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the worker resource analysis module is configured to classify user activity information into groups comprising user workflow tasks, user sign-in activity, user sign-out activity, user break activity, and/or user region changes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the worker resource analysis module is configured to provide a report of a projected departure time of a delivery vehicle from each of the multiple warehouse regions relative to a scheduled departure time based on a function of at least one of an amount of work remaining in the warehouse region, number of users operating in the warehouse region, current rate of work being accomplished, and current projected time of work completion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user productivity patterns are pattern is identified at fixed interval time periods immediately preceding a current identification time. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user activity information comprises at least one of a break duration, a user idle time after sign-in, a user idle time before sign-off, a user idle time before beginning break activity, and a user idle time after returning from break activity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the user productivity patterns identified are based on five minute time periods immediately preceding the current identification time. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the user productivity patterns identified is flagged based upon the most recent interval period immediately preceding the current identification time. 
     
     
         11 . A worker resource management system, comprising:
 a voice-directed mobile terminal for facilitating a voice communication between a user and the voice-directed mobile terminal, wherein the user is assigned a task in one of multiple warehouse regions and each warehouse region has a delivery vehicle with a scheduled departure time; and   a computer in communication with the voice-directed mobile terminal, the computer including a worker resource analysis module and a tasking module for transmitting an instruction to the voice-directed mobile terminal, wherein the worker resource analysis module is configured to:
 (i) record the voice communication between the user and the voice-directed mobile terminal with a corresponding timestamp based at least in part upon the voice communication received from the voice-directed mobile terminal over a communication link, 
 (ii) record user activity information from the voice-directed mobile terminal based on recorded voice communication at the time the voice communication occurred, 
 (iii) provide work assessment predictions based at least in part upon user activity information received recorded, 
 (iv) provide a workforce prediction report for a predefined time interval based on a function of the user activity information, an amount of work remaining in the particular warehouse region, and number of delivery vehicles scheduled for departure from the warehouse region within the particular predefined time interval. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the worker resource analysis module is configured to provide a report of a projected departure time of the delivery vehicle from each of the multiple warehouse regions relative to the scheduled departure time based on a function of at least one of an amount of work remaining in the warehouse region, number of users operating in the warehouse region, current rate of work being accomplished, and current projected time of work completion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a visual display provides reports corresponding to the work assessment predictions. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the worker resource analysis module is configured to provide an alert corresponding to the work assessment predictions at predefined intervals based on a break duration taken by the user and a break period predefined by the worker resource analysis module. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the work assessment predictions comprise information that the delivery vehicle from the warehouse region will be delayed beyond scheduled departure time. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the work assessment predictions are based upon a number of work units remaining in the warehouse region, a number of users present in a warehouse region's workforce, and a rate at which work is being completed in the warehouse region. 
     
     
         17 . A method for managing worker resources, comprising:
 transmitting task data from a server computer to a voice-directed mobile terminal in communication with the server computer;   providing speech-based instructions associated with task data to a user using the voice-directed mobile terminal, wherein the user is assigned a task in one of multiple warehouse regions;   recording a voice communication between the user and the voice-directed mobile terminal with a corresponding timestamp based at least in part upon the voice communication received from the voice-directed mobile terminal over a communication link;   recording user activity information from the voice-directed mobile terminal based on recorded voice communication at the time the voice communication occurred;   analyzing user activity information to
 (i) identify user productivity patterns, 
 (ii) provide work assessment predictions; 
 (iii) provide an alert corresponding to the work assessment predictions at predefined intervals based on a break duration taken by the user and a predefined break period. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising implementing worker resource decisions in response to an analysis of the user activity information. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the worker resource decisions comprise providing a productivity compliance alert to a worker related to break duration compliance based on the corresponding timestamps. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the worker resource decisions are based upon a number of work units remaining in the warehouse region, a number of users present in a warehouse region's workforce, and a rate at which work is being completed in the warehouse region.