Personnel development and assignment based upon the technology calendar concept

Abstract

The optimal utilization of human resources is one of the most important success factors contributing to long-term competitiveness. An essential requirement for the optimal utilization is a goal-oriented planning of personnel development. The principal intention of personnel development and assignment planning is to cope with technology and product changes. These changes not only demand a quick and flexible adaptation of machinery resources but also that of an existing workforce. In addition to the productions logistical and financial objectives, which are generally in the foreground during the implementation of new technologies and products, the workers' personal concerns should be taken into account. In order to be able to offer a methodology for the continuous adaptation of a workforce to the process of change, the idea of the technology calendar concept is picked up and expanded here. Within this concept, the ifab-Institute of Human and Industrial Engineering at the University of Karlsruhe exploits the possibility of using simulation as a planning tool in order to support a goal-oriented planning of personnel development. © 2005 by International Federation for Information Processing.