Approach for personnel development planning based on the technology calendar concept

In the majority of manufacturing systems, human resources are the most expensive but also the most flexible factor. Therefore, the optimal utilization of human resources is an important success factor contributing to long-term competitiveness. In order to meet future requirements, which arise from continuous changes to products and technologies, production enterprises are forced to constantly adapt their human resources with respect to the number and abilities of employed persons. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to define time frames, which allow for at least a rough planning of the needed number and abilities of a workforce. These time frames are determined by the dates when product or technology changes are expected. This already known technology calendar concept has now been enhanced by time frames for personnel development measures. Which worker is suitable for further education and how the respective abilities should be achieved is a subject matter related to the determination of qualitative personnel requirements, whereas the number of needed persons is a quantitative issue. If the required qualifications are to be available at the right point in time, it is indispensable that the necessary qualification measures are defined and scheduled appropriately. The concept, which has been developed here, describes the qualification measures, sorted into target groups, content, qualification costs and time. As a means to meet the personnel requirements arising from continuous changes to products and technologies, the enhanced technology calendar concept will be illustrated by using an application example. r 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.