Seeking novel proposals for the management and dynamic allocation of resources in a post-Covid-19 work setting

  • Innoget
  • From European Union
  • Responsive
  • Project Size Range : Strategic project backed by large scale funding €
  • Deadline completed
    The submission process for new proposals is closed. Proposals submitted before the deadline will follow the standard evaluation process.

Desired outcome

• 30% improvement in resource utilization.
• 30% increase in overall productivity
• Improved employee retention rates due to solution enabling novel employment practices (e.g. reduced working hours for highly productive employees, etc.)
• 50% reduction in instances of manpower imbalances caused due to poor recruitment / over recruitment of personnel.

The solution should be one which the industry would readily accept and adopt, with minimal resistance from employees.

It should enable warehouse operators to efficiently measure, improve, recognize, retain and reward the worker based on their productivity level.

With such a solution, it would enable effective management of the workforce in post-COVID19 world.

Innoget

Background

YCH is seeking an effective, cost efficient and user-friendly resource management and planning solution which enables optimisation of productivity with regard to manpower and equipment utilisation. Notably, the platform will also cater to post-COVID 19 work settings, where operations has to factor in Business Continuity Planning (BCP) requirements, social distancing and workforce segregation.

Existing resource planning and workforce management solutions are not catered to suit such operations. Current resource planning and workforce management solutions are effective in environments where the materials and processes are standardized. However, in the warehousing & logistics industry, the variables and environment are highly dynamic and unpredictable, with the handling of different types of cargo. A logistics company operating in a highly dynamic and fluid post-COVID environment, has to be quick and agile in redeploying resources to functions that require greater assistance.

We are seeking a solution that is able to monitor and track the productivity of manpower and equipment utilisation, and pinpoint areas to allow for adjustments in resource deployment. This solution should be able to be deployed in different warehouse operation sizes.

Requirements

The platform is envisaged to be powered by IoT devices and machine learning capabilities. It should be able to provide value through tracking, visualisation, analysis, prediction and optimisation.

Interoperable Solutioning. This solution should be able to integrate with our existing software solutions including enterprise resource planning (ERP) and warehouse management systems (WMS).

Managing Staffing Requirements. Our distribution centre has many customers from different sectors, hence there are different peak-season period where resources are not being fully maximised. In a post-COVID world scenario, there has to be granularity of data to allow for a

“safe” workplace. Tracking the location of the individual is desirable, not necessarily to an exact location, but to that of the floor level for example.

Possible methods of tracking include, but not limited to:

  • Wearables
  • Computer Vision

The solution we are seeking should be able to cater to the multiple skills possessed by our employees, and be able to optimally allocate resources to the task at hand, without overburdening the employee.

The solution should be able to track the utilisation of equipment, such as forklifts and reach trucks.

Based on the data collected, the solution should be able to calculate the predicted level of productivity for each day, based on the number of employees available and their individual productivity level. Such calculations may be used to provide recommendations for optimal resource allocation, in fulfilling the total number of orders for the day.

The system should be able to calculate the gaps between order to fulfil and total predicted productivity. It should be able to recommend any additional manpower required to cover bottleneck activity and identify the suitable worker who is available and at the appropriate location to carry out the task.

Warehousing activities include

  • Inbound – Unloading container
  • Inbound – Receiving (gantry & scanner)
  • Inbound – Put away (automated guided vehicle (AGV))
  • Storage (automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS))
  • Outbound – Process Order (WMS)
  • Outbound – Staging (AGV)
  • Outbound – Picking (robotic arms & scanner)
  • Outbound – Shrink Wrap (wrapping machine)
  • Outbound – Loading container

Possible solutions include, but not limited to

  • Gamification - Incentivizing employee to strive to work harder for different tiered rewards based on their individual performance result.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Analytics – Perform analytics via AI models and algorithms, based on productivity metrics of the worker and utilisation of equipment, to recommend optimal resource allocation
  • Human Resource Information System (HRIS) - Tracking employee skillset and recommend training for employees lacking in specific skills. The system should be able to recommend distribution between permanent and temporary staff based on the workload.
  • System based coaching – Having the system be able to coach employees on best practices for their relevant tasks in order to improve productivity, accuracy, safety and enable inexperienced employees to learn on-the-job with minimal human instruction.
  • Group learning – Ability for various employees to contribute best practices, past experiences and/or suggestions to improve upon existing processes in a forum that can be moderated by supervisors / managers and later incorporated into the system based coaching module.

Minimum Required Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

Level 7

Trade and Connectivity Challenge 2020

The present Innovation Call is part of the Trade and Connectivity Challenge 2020 co-organised by Enterprise Singapore along with IPI Singapore.

Singapore’s position as a strategic trade hub is backed by its strong regional networks and connectivity. In recent years, Singapore has also transformed into a hub for innovation activity.

The Trade and Connectivity Challenge (TCC) leverages Singapore’s vibrant ecosystem of global trade, connectivity and innovation as a call for solutions to drive partnerships in the aviation, maritime, land mobility, logistics, and trade sectors. Now, in its second year, TCC 2020 continues to provide opportunities for startups and SMEs to co-innovate, deploy, and adopt innovative solutions.

Enterprise Singapore, together with IPI, invites you to showcase your innovative solutions in growth areas, such as big data analysis, Internet of Things and sustainability post-COVID19.

Related Keywords

  • Electronics, IT and Telecomms
  • Digital Systems, Digital Representation
  • Data Processing / Data Interchange, Middleware
  • Internet of Things
  • Process control and logistics
  • Process automation
  • Process Plant Engineering
  • Protecting Man and Environment
  • Safety
  • Environment
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Engineering / Technology
  • Remote sensing technology
  • Clean Production / Green Technologies
  • Life Cycle Assessment
  • Social and Economics concerns
  • Data processing, analysis and input services
  • Big data management
  • Process control equipment and systems
  • Covid-19
  • resource sharing
  • digital platforms

About Innoget

The Singapore Management University Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE) is a practice-oriented institute that nurtures changemakers and founders who aspire to make the world a better place. To achieve this mission, SMU IIE focuses on its three areas of competencies which include customised training programmes, an equity-free incubation programme, and fostering a cohesive innovation and entrepreneurship community.

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