Competence-based performance model of multi-skilled workers

•Performance model of multi-skilled workers with learning curves and competence sets.•Novel calculation of worker performance.•Combination of the competences-based performance with a discrete-event simulation.

Effective human resource management requires an individual approach to worker appraisal in order to be able to make accurate analyses and to make informed decisions. In this paper we develop a competences-based analytical model of the performance of multi-skilled workers undertaking repetitive tasks. The aim is to build an analytical tool that better describes the capabilities of workers to perform repetitive tasks by binding together hierarchical competences modeled as a weighted digraph and learning curves to express individual learning rates. An illustrative example based on an assembly line using a discrete-event simulation model is provided. As a result we get an approach that calculates how work experience on one working post translates into performance on other posts, thus enabling better workforce scheduling. Incorporating competences-based modeling into planning and scheduling results in a more precise estimation of actual and future workforce performance.