Patent Application
20250232237
This application claims benefit of and priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-217478 filed Dec. 22, 2023, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to an information processing system that enables the immediate retrieval of analytical information useful for business management utilizing a multidimensional database.
Conventionally, information processing systems have existed for managing business plans and business performance. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an invention of a production planning management system that allows the management side and the production site side to share production performance in real-time, while simplifying the input tasks of production performance on the production site.
In such business planning management systems, a typical information processing system repeatedly performs the design of “combining one file set of a table structure with another file set of a table structure to create a new file set” in order to maintain the integrity and sequence of the data. This design approach typically utilizes a unidimensional database. As a result, nearly all components necessary for the system have been manually constructed.
However, this design approach becomes inefficient as the scale and complexity of the system increase. To assemble the system, there is a problem needing a large amount of human resources. Additionally, while the data structure may be suitable for business execution, it must be restructured to fit other perspectives (e.g., personnel evaluation or resource management).
Regarding the latter issue, one possible solution is to separately create the program and data structure for a different dimension and use it as input for another business process. However, this solution creates a time lag. In other words, in business planning management, it does not provide the required speed of output for analysis results and the frequency at which the results are updated.
On the other hand, in order to address the above issues, a design approach using a multidimensional database, instead of a unidimensional database, can be considered. In a multidimensional database, data is represented in a “cube” structure, where the cube has multiple dimensions, and each dimension represents a specific category or hierarchy. For example, data with different dimensions such as time, region, and product can be represented in a single integrated view.
This significantly reduces the need for data restructuring or manual construction. Depending on different business needs and analytical perspectives, data can be instantly sliced and diced, enabling rapid data analysis from various perspectives such as business planning, personnel evaluation, and resource management.
However, in a multidimensional database, in order to create the database structure, it is necessary to predefine multidimensional business requirements (such as reports and necessary information formats for human resource management and cost management), design the smallest data unit of the multidimensional database, and structure the data to meet the multidimensional business requirements by adding data to this smallest data unit. This means that the database designer must possess both the ability to define multidimensional business requirements and the ability to construct the system.
However, acquiring both of these abilities is very difficult (since one must be familiar with various business areas and be able to construct systems based on design philosophies that differ from previous ones). Although a design philosophy existed previously, it was not possible to reach the level of design definition.
The inventor of the present invention realized that by creating containers such as “project dimension,” “process dimension,” and “personnel dimension,” and inserting the smallest data unit, i.e., “work start and work end” information into these containers, it is possible to easily construct a multidimensional database that is usable across each dimensions.
(1) Based on the above insight, the information processing system according to the present invention includes a multidimensional database having the project dimension, process dimension, and personnel dimension, a planning creation unit that creates a business plan including project information, process information, and personnel information in the dimensions of each database, and an achievement management unit that inputs work start time and work end time for the business plan. The multidimensional database stores hierarchical data containing the project information, process information, personnel information, work start time, and work end time.
In this information processing system, business plans based on project dimensions, process dimensions, and personnel dimensions can be easily created using the multidimensional database. And analysis can be performed for each dimension, so that contribute to the efficiency of project management, resource management, and other business operations. This enables more detailed and efficient planning.
(2) Furthermore, in the information processing system described above, the system includes a product dimension, and the planning creation unit creates a business plan containing product information in addition to project information, process information, and personnel information. The multidimensional database stores hierarchical data that includes project information, process information, personnel information, work start time, work end time, and product information.
In this information processing system, especially the personnel dimension has a hierarchical structure in the order of worker information, work start time, work end time, project information, and process information. That enables individual progress tracking and centralized personnel management.
(3) In the information processing system described above, the project dimension of the multidimensional database has a hierarchical structure in the order of project information, process information, worker information, work start time, and work end time.
(4) In the information processing system described above, the project dimension of the multidimensional database has a hierarchical structure in the order of project information, category information, process information, worker information, work start time, and work end time.
(5) In the information processing system described above, the process dimension of the multidimensional database has a hierarchical structure in the order of category information, process information, project information, worker information, work start time, and work end time.
(6) In the information processing system described above, the product dimension of the multidimensional database has a hierarchical structure in the order of product information, process information, project information, worker information, work start time, and work end time.
According to the information processing system of the present invention, business plans and business performance can be efficiently managed using a multidimensional database. Specifically, it can provide a reporting screen that thoroughly eliminates the hassle of reporting, functions to display work reports on a weekly basis per individual, a feature to view the work content of team members for the day, the status visualization of project progress and work hours spent based on work reports, and a display of the “effort level” quantified by the reporter for the project they are working on. It also provides functions such as aggregating standard times, average planned times, and plan-versus-actual performance for tasks by project or product category.
In other words, the present invention provides a new information processing system that uses a multidimensional database to enable the real-time acquisition of business performance, optimize personnel allocation in high performance, improve processes, improve estimates, manage personnel evaluations, and manage the information necessary for business performance improvements, thus enhancing business efficiency.
The information processing system S according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The information processing system S is configured to include at least a server 1, an administrator terminal 2, and a worker terminal 3. The server 1, administrator terminal 2, and worker terminal 3 are interconnected via a network N, such as the internet.
The server 1 is a server that manages the operations of the administrator terminal 2 and worker terminal 3 and executes various processes to provide workflow and task management related to business and administrative tasks.
The administrator terminal 2 is an information processing device operated by an administrator for workflow management and composed of the devices such as a PC (Personal Computer), tablet, or smartphone.
The worker terminal 3 is an information processing device operated by workers at business or job sites and composed of the devices such as tablets or smartphones.
As shown in
The CPU 11 executes various processes according to programs stored in the ROM 12 or programs loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. The RAM 13 also stores data necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes as needed.
The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. The input/output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. The output unit 16, input unit 17, storage unit 18, communication unit 19, and drive D are connected to the input/output interface 15.
The output unit 16 consists of devices such as displays or speakers and outputs various information as images or sound. The input unit 17 consists of devices such as keyboards or mice and is used to input various information. The storage unit 18 consists of devices such as hard disks or DRAM 13 (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and stores various data.
The communication unit 19 enables communication with other devices (e.g., the server 1, administrator terminal 2, or worker terminal 3) via a network including the internet. The storage unit 18 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores data-based information. However, the server 1 may also use cloud-based storage of the drive D as the storage unit 18.
Although not illustrated, the administrator terminal 2 and worker terminal 3 of the information processing system S shown in
Next is the explanation of the functional blocks for executing business support processes in the information processing system S. This business support processes refer to a series of processes that realize business support, consisting of various sub-processes such as registration processing of pre-registration information, business plan creation processing, and business performance registration processing. This allows for real-time centralized management of information related to various business tasks.
As shown in
The registration acceptance unit 21 accepts pre-registration information necessary for using the business support system. The accepted pre-registration information is stored and managed in the pre-registration information database DD. Pre-registration information includes, for example, details related to each project such as “instruction number,” “client name,” “project name,” “main person in charge,” “quantity,” “scheduled completion date,” “scheduled delivery date,” “project summary,” and “acceptance conditions.” It also includes details about “processes,” “workers (responsible persons),” and “products.” However, there are no particular restrictions on what information the pre-registration information must include.
The planning creation unit 22 creates business plans consisting of one or more processes required to execute a task. Specifically, the planning creation unit 22 creates business plans tailored to each project by combining one or more processes based on the pre-registration information. The created business plans are stored and managed in the pre-registration information database DD.
Next is the explanation of the operation of the multidimensional database DB. The multidimensional database DB organizes data into multiple “dimensions” for multifaceted analysis, and each dimension stores a hierarchical data having hierarchical structure. In addition, a 3 dimensional database is explained as the 1st embodiment and a 4 dimensional database is explained as the 2nd embodiment in the following way.
In the 1st embodiment, as shown in
The multidimensional database DB receives minimal data such as date information, worker information, work start time, work completion time, project information, and process information. As shown in
The multidimensional database DB in the 1st embodiment, upon receiving minimal data, generates and stores personnel hierarchical structure data in the personnel dimension in the order of date information, worker information, work start time, work completion time, project information, and process information, as shown in
By organizing and storing data based on the above hierarchical structures, the multidimensional database DB makes it easy to trace, for example, the projects in which a worker has been involved and the time spent on specific processes within those projects using the personnel dimension. This enables clear analysis of a worker's performance and the time they spent on each project or process.
For instance, the project dimension allows analysis of specific projects, such as which processes were conducted, who participated, and how much time was spent on the tasks. Similarly, the process dimension enables analysis of specific processes, including which projects they were part of, who was involved, and the time taken.
As shown in
For example, personnel information may include details about “workers”, such as name, age, gender, and date of birth. Project information may include instruction number, client name, project name, main person in charge, quantity, scheduled completion date, scheduled delivery date, project summary, and project conditions. Process information may include details about task types and other process-related data.
Next, the operation of the business management system constructed using the information processing system S in the 1st embodiment will be explained with reference to screens displayed on an output device, such as the monitor of the output unit 16 (not shown).
The information for the “Instruction Number,” “Client Name,” “Project Name,” “Main Person in Charge,” “Quantity,” “Scheduled Completion Date,” and “Scheduled Delivery Date” fields on the “Work Instruction Management” screen can be entered via the “Work Instruction Creation” screen described later.
The “Basic Information” section shows details such as “Instruction Number,” “Client Name,” “Project Name,” “Main Person in Charge,” “Quantity,” “Scheduled Completion Date,” and “Scheduled Delivery Date,” along with additional fields like “Project Summary” and “Acceptance Conditions,” allowing users to check detailed information about each task.
The “Process Information” section displays the task-specific “Work Instruction” field names and the total “Work Time (Total)” required (or spent). In this embodiment, the “Work Instruction” field names include items such as “Design” and “Initial Environment Setup,” and a vertical “ . . . ” button is provided on the right for additional details. The “Work Time (Total)” is displayed as “04:30,” indicating that 4 hours and 30 minutes were required for the task shown on this screen.
When the [QR Code (registered trademark)] is scanned, the information related to STEP.1 (target task) and STEP.2 (process) of the “Work Record” is embedded in the [QR Code (registered trademark)]. As a result, the screen skips the STEP.1 and STEP.2 of the “Work Record” and directly displays the “Business Report” screen of STEP.3.
The “Business Report” screen of the “Work Record” allows users to review past records of each task. In addition to reviewing past records, the screen enables users to log the start and end times of tasks. The screen includes fields such as “Report Target,” “Report Process,” “Timestamp History,” a “Comments” field, and buttons for “Start” and “End” (of a process), as well as a “[+] Add Comment” button.
The “Report Target” field displays items from the work instruction sheet, including “Instruction Number,” “Client Name,” and “Project Name.” Clicking the “[+] Add Comment” button allows users to enter comments about the process they executed in the “Comments” field. The “Timestamp History” field displays information such as the “Worker” who performed the task, the “Date,” and the “Start” and “End” times of the task performed within the “Report Process.”
Clicking the “Start” button records the “Start” time of the task in the “Timestamp History,” while clicking the “End” button records the “End” time. The “Worker” field stores the user of the worker terminal 3 that scanned the QR Code, and the “Date” field stores the date the QR Code was scanned. The “Date,” “Worker,” “Start” time, and “End” time are sent to the multidimensional database DB as date information, worker information, work start time, and work completion time, respectively. At the same time, project information and process information are also sent to the multidimensional database DB.
The “Basic Information” section displays input fields such as “Instruction Number,” “Client Name,” “Project Name,” “Main Person in Charge,” “Quantity,” “Scheduled Completion Date,” “Scheduled Delivery Date,” “Project Summary,” and “Acceptance Conditions.” Users can enter information into each field via the input unit 17, which is received by the registration acceptance unit 21. The “Process Information” section allows users to select and input process information registered in the master information (not shown).
Clicking the “Edit” button allows users to modify the “Start Time” or “End Time” for each process. When an edit is made, a checkmark appears in the “Edited” field as a record of the change.
In the 2nd embodiment, the multidimensional database DB includes 4 dimensions: project dimension, process dimension, personnel dimension, and product dimension (not shown).
The multidimensional database DB receives minimal data, including date information, worker information, work start time, work completion time, project information, process information, and product information. The minimal data entered into the multidimensional database DB is simultaneously sent to each dimension, organized according to the hierarchical structure of each dimension, and stored as hierarchical data.
In the 2nd embodiment, the personnel dimension stores personnel hierarchical structure data, the project dimension stores project hierarchical structure data, and the process dimension stores process hierarchical structure data.
As shown in
Furthermore, in the product dimension of the multidimensional database DB in the 2nd embodiment, it generates and stores product hierarchical structure data in the order of product information, process information, project information, worker information, date information, work start time, and work completion time.
By organizing and storing data based on the hierarchical structures described above, the multidimensional database DB makes it easy, for example, to trace the projects a worker has been involved in and the time spent on specific processes within those projects using the personnel dimension. This allows for clear analysis of a worker's performance and the time they have spent on each project or process.
Additionally, for instance, the project dimension allows for analysis of specific projects, such as which processes were conducted, who participated, and the time spent on those tasks. Similarly, the process dimension enables analysis of specific processes, such as which projects they were part of, who was involved, and the time required.
Moreover, the product dimension allows for analysis of specific products, such as which processes they underwent, in which projects they were involved, who participated, and the time required for each task.
As shown in
For example, personnel information may include worker details such as name, age, gender, and date of birth. Project information may include instruction number, client name, project name, main person in charge, quantity, scheduled completion date, scheduled delivery date, project summary, and project conditions. Process information may include task types and other process-related details. Product-related information may include details about the composition of the product.
Next, the operation of the business management system constructed using the information processing system S in the 2nd embodiment will be explained with reference to screens displayed on an output device, such as the monitor of the output unit 16 (not shown).
Information for the “Instruction Number,” “Client Name,” “Product,” “Project Name,” “Project Summary,” “Acceptance Conditions,” “Main Person in Charge,” “Quantity,” “Scheduled Completion Date,” and “Scheduled Delivery Date” fields on the “Work Instruction Management” screen can be entered via the “Work Instruction Creation” screen described later.
The “Basic Information” section displays detailed information for each task, including “Instruction Number,” “Product,” “Client Name,” “Project Name,” “Main Person in Charge,” “Quantity,” “Scheduled Completion Date,” “Scheduled Delivery Date,” “Project Summary,” and “Acceptance Conditions.”
The “Process Information” section displays the field names of “Work Instructions” specific to each task and the total “Work Time (Total)” required (or spent). In this embodiment, field names such as “Design” and “Initial Environment Setup” are displayed in the “Work Instructions” section, with a vertical “ . . . ” button on the right for more details. The “Work Time (Total)” is displayed as “04:30,” indicating that 4 hours and 30 minutes were required for the task.
When the [QR Code (registered trademark)] is scanned, information related to STEP.1 (target task) and STEP.2 (process) of the “Work Record” is embedded in the [QR Code (registered trademark)]. As a result, the “Work Record” skips STEP.1 and STEP.2 and directly displays the “Business Report” screen of STEP.3.
The “Business Report” screen of the “Work Record” allows users to review past records of each task and log the start and end times of tasks. The screen includes fields for “Report Target,” “Report Process,” and “Timestamp History,” along with a “Comments” field, “Start” and “End” buttons for processes, and a “[+] Add Comment” button.
The “Report Target” displays the “Instruction Number,” “Client Name,” “Product,” and “Project Name” fields from the work instruction sheet. Clicking the “[+] Add Comment” button allows users to input comments about the “Report Process” into the “Comments” field. The “Timestamp History” section shows the “Worker,” “Date,” “Start” time, and “End” time for tasks performed within the “Report Process.”
Clicking the “Start” button records the “Start” time for the task in the “Timestamp History,” while clicking the “End” button records the “End” time. The “Worker” field stores the user of the worker terminal 3 who scanned the QR Code, and the “Date” field stores the date the QR Code was scanned. The “Date,” “Worker,” “Start” time, and “End” time are sent to the multidimensional database DB as date information, worker information, work start time, and work completion time, respectively. Simultaneously, project information and process information are also sent to the multidimensional database DB.
The “Basic Information” section includes input fields such as “Instruction Number,” “Product,” “Client Name,” “Project Name,” “Main Person in Charge,” “Quantity,” “Scheduled Completion Date,” “Scheduled Delivery Date,” “Project Summary,” and “Acceptance Conditions.” Users can input data for these fields via the input unit 17, which is processed by the registration acceptance unit 21. The “Process Information” section allows users to select and input process details from master information (not shown).
In the 2nd embodiment, while the 1st embodiment is a 3 dimensional database with personnel dimension, project dimension, and process dimension, the 2nd embodiment adds a product dimension, making it a 4 dimensional database. This allows for analysis from the perspective of the product dimension, expanding the scope of analysis.
This embodiment describes the multidimensional database in the form of a 3 dimensional database with 3 dimensions and a 4 dimensional database with 4 dimensions. However, the multidimensional database may also include a 5 or more dimensional database with 5 or more dimensions.
The information processing system for constructing the business management system according to this embodiment has been described. However, the information processing system is not limited to the above embodiments and may adopt other configurations as long as they achieve the objectives of the invention.
The present invention can be applied to information processing systems used for business support and related tasks.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-217478 | Dec 2023 | JP | national |
