Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of sensors adapted to identify and track items, e.g., tools, instruments and consumables, placed on worksurfaces. Each worksurface may contain one or more of these items and is used in an operating room. It is first determined if all the necessary items are available for a task at hand, then as items are removed, added or consumed a tally is updated to ensure that each is accounted for. When the task ends all items have to be accounted for by having the sensors review the content of the worksurfaces and identifying any discrepancy. In one embodiment, the system learns a process, e.g., a surgical process, such that in future cases it provides alerts of missing items before and after the task, provide instructions to equipment such as robots to assist in the task performance, and the like.