Is Overtime Really a Problem?
I recently participated in an online forum about the “Evils of Overtime.” I was surprised at how uniformly overtime is seen as something to be avoided. Its as if overtime was a measurement of how poorly you were managing your workforce. Here was one of my comments: Overtime is only a problem if you see … Continue reading “Is Overtime Really a Problem?”
Why should you consider changing your shift schedule?
Changing shift schedules is not like changing the curtains in your kitchen. It’s complicated. It disrupts your workforce. It takes a great deal of effort in an area that you likely have very little experience AND if you make a mistake, you must be prepared to live with it for a very long time. So, … Continue reading “Why should you consider changing your shift schedule?”
Changing Schedules 101
Every now and then, I like to return to the basics. Today I’m going to cover some of the basic DOs and DON’Ts for those of you considering a change to your schedule. DO make sure you have clearly identified your needs. Changing schedules can be a traumatic experience for your workforce. You don’t want … Continue reading “Changing Schedules 101”
Preparation is part of Doing
I just saw a post on LinkedIn where a LEAN expert mentioned that 20% of implementing LEAN is having the right tools. The other 80% is the mindset. In other words, the table must be set in order for dinner to be served. It strikes me that this is an “oft-overlooked” phase of every project. … Continue reading “Preparation is part of Doing”
Work-Life Balance
A frequent lament I’ve been hearing for the last 30 years is “Today’s kids don’t have the work ethic of their parents.” Interestingly, the frequency of this type of statement is inversely proportional to the local unemployment rate. When unemployment is low, then companies start to notice that their employees become less “sticky”. They leave … Continue reading “Work-Life Balance”
A bird in the hand
I help companies change schedules. I do this for a living. Some people think the hardest part is coming up with a schedule. Generally speaking, that is the easiest part of my job. Helping people to overcome the anxiety of change is much more complicated. I will give a short example here. Companies that use … Continue reading “A bird in the hand”
Peripheral Vision
Once, back in my Navy days, I was the Chief Engineer on a cruiser. Â This was a 24/7 job where it seemed that everything was a priority all of the time. Â I was having a conversation with the commanding officer about setting priorities and he said, “When in doubt, shoot the wolf closest to the … Continue reading “Peripheral Vision”
Staffing? – Good Question
Considerations for answering – How Many Do I Hire? I’m a shiftwork expert so my posts are always centered on shiftwork operations. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t something that a non-shiftwork operation might find helpful. My hope is that every reader of every post is able to find value. Most of my work, about … Continue reading “Staffing? – Good Question”
Yes, it’s personal
I’m often asked, “Jim, what is the single most important thing we, as an organization, can do to better facilitate a schedule change.” My answer is always the same – “Find a way to see the event through the eyes of a shift worker.” Â In other words, walk that mile in their shoes. Companies don’t … Continue reading “Yes, it’s personal”
5 Signs that you may need a new shift schedule
Shift schedules rarely fail overnight. Â Typically, there are plenty of warning signs; signs that tell you to take action before it’s too late. Â Here are the 5 biggest warning signs. #1: You have idle equipment while still not producing enough to meet customer demands. Â There can be a lot of reasons for this; nearly all … Continue reading “5 Signs that you may need a new shift schedule”