Wednesday, April 2. 2008
Help With Shift Schedules and Shift Work Rotations
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For the first entry I wanted to share with everyone that I got a call today from an ethanol plant that had a rotation issue. They like the 12 hour EOWO (every other weekend off), but wanted to simplify the rotation and give everyone a fair amount of time off. We looked at 7 iterations and finally came up with the right modifications. 2 hours on the phone turned into a real improvement in lifestyle for an entire shift. Take the time to share your experiences and challenges as we begin this blog together.
Comment (1)
I am working at a call center and we work 12 hour shifts. Not everyone loves it (I am one of them). You would think that in our environment there would be more options. It isn't like we are in a manufacturing plant. Any ideas on how to get management to see the light?
Jack
Jack
Comment (1)
Jack,
You are right, in call centers the most efficient way to schedule employees require more than 1 shift option. So the best way to get management interested in new schedule ideas is to let them know they are some cost savings available by looking at alternate schedules. In addition there are many soft savings as well, like making you and other employees happier by offering additional schedules that will better fit your life and preferences. You might print out some of articles available at www.CorePractice.com that will help you convince your managers to start thinking about different schedules. As a side note most manufacturing plants can run several different schedules to both minimize cost and maximize employee choice.
You are right, in call centers the most efficient way to schedule employees require more than 1 shift option. So the best way to get management interested in new schedule ideas is to let them know they are some cost savings available by looking at alternate schedules. In addition there are many soft savings as well, like making you and other employees happier by offering additional schedules that will better fit your life and preferences. You might print out some of articles available at www.CorePractice.com that will help you convince your managers to start thinking about different schedules. As a side note most manufacturing plants can run several different schedules to both minimize cost and maximize employee choice.
Comment (1)
12 hour shift schedules are always the big question. Yes, they give you more days off, but is it worth it to work the longer shifts? In the end, one typically ends up working about the same number of hours on average each week.
To answer this question it is REALY important to speak with your shift workers. Whether you use the professional applications from Core Practice Partners or you try and go it alone, it is the critical that the people working the schedules have a say in what they end up on. Depending on issues like start ups and shut downs, breaks, lunches, and other tactical operational issues, 12s make work better than 8s from a financial perspective. 8 hour shifts require three shifts each day and therefore three shift changes while 12 hour shifts only require two. Also, because 3 shift is desired twice as much as 2nd shift, start times on 12s can be created to completely remove the negative aspects of 2nd shift. HOWEVER, based on the physical demands of the job, 12s may in some circumstances simply not work.
To answer this question it is REALY important to speak with your shift workers. Whether you use the professional applications from Core Practice Partners or you try and go it alone, it is the critical that the people working the schedules have a say in what they end up on. Depending on issues like start ups and shut downs, breaks, lunches, and other tactical operational issues, 12s make work better than 8s from a financial perspective. 8 hour shifts require three shifts each day and therefore three shift changes while 12 hour shifts only require two. Also, because 3 shift is desired twice as much as 2nd shift, start times on 12s can be created to completely remove the negative aspects of 2nd shift. HOWEVER, based on the physical demands of the job, 12s may in some circumstances simply not work.
Comment (1)
Core Practice Partners has cracked the code. 12 hour shift schedules have tremendous success in some environments, but fail in others. The manufacturing environment can be the same, the demographic can be the same, and the plants can even be across the street from each other, but one may find success with 12 hour shifts while the other fails. Why? Demographics are important as is the type of work environment whether it is a call center, manufacturing plant, mine, or distribution facility. What is more important is the need to get the schedule rotation right (day on and day off pattern or night and day shift rotation or both) and to follow strict change management procedures. Employees need to be involved in the process. The combination of expertise and experience at Core Practice Partners has allowed them to consistently provide successful operations management consulting to Fortune 500 companies around the globe. 12 hour shifts can save companies a lot of money, but if they don't know how to design implement the right solutions, cost savings become stranded.
For more information about Core Practice Partners and their services, please contact John Frehse at 212-534-0539.
For more information about Core Practice Partners and their services, please contact John Frehse at 212-534-0539.
Comments (2)
We are seeing a lot of activity on the web with regards to 12 hour shifts. People are saying they are worn out after the 3rd day or after the first 8 hours. 12 hour shift schedules require extra attention with diet, exercise, and sleep. The 12 hour shift schedule rotation is also critical. If you think you can just use what the company down the street is working (with regards to their 12 hour shift schedules) you are making a big mistake. Day on and day off scheduling shift patterns can make a great difference. Are your employees the type that want an extra 13 weeks off each year and can handle working 4 12 hour shifts in a row? If so their rotation will look different then the "work a little, play a little" concept where no one ever works more than 3 12 hour shifts in a row.
Call John Frehse at 212 534 0539 if you have any questions, but as cost savings are associated with 12 hour shifts more and more, management teams need to educate themselves. 12 hour shifts can be expensive and destroy morale OR they can save money and make your employees very satisfied. The devil is in the details and that is why what may work at one facility could be a disaster at another.
Call John Frehse at 212 534 0539 if you have any questions, but as cost savings are associated with 12 hour shifts more and more, management teams need to educate themselves. 12 hour shifts can be expensive and destroy morale OR they can save money and make your employees very satisfied. The devil is in the details and that is why what may work at one facility could be a disaster at another.
Comments (2)
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