With deep expertise in shift scheduling and operational efficiency, our partners have led successful workforce transformation projects for decades. Â Jim Dillingham, Ethan Franklin, and Dan Capshaw apply their extensive experience in evaluating, designing, and implementing work systems to help businesses achieve optimal staffing solutions. The insights shared on this website reflect their collective knowledge and commitment to improving productivity and employee well-being.
As of July 2024, we are thrilled to welcome Ethan Franklin to the Shiftwork Solutions team! Ethan’s extensive experience (27 years) helping companies improve their shiftwork operations makes him a powerful addition to our team. As you will read below, he has a proven track record of success in our field – we have known him for many years, and we are confident that he will bring invaluable insights and expertise to help you achieve your goals.
Meet Ethan Franklin
Ethan Franklin is a Senior Director at Shiftwork Solutions LLC. For more than 27 years he has been helping companies evaluate, design, and implement improved shift schedules and work systems. Ethan has successfully developed and implemented innovative labor strategies for well over 100 companies. His labor strategies not only improve business results but also dramatically increase employee morale by deliberately incorporating the needs of the workforce. His experience encompasses a wide range of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverage, automotive, chemical, electronics, pharmaceuticals, power, call centers, banking and insurance, distribution, telecommunications, mining, and government.
Ethan is a results-oriented project and change management professional specializing in labor schedules. He utilizes data-driven analysis to balance business needs with employee well-being, fostering a collaborative environment with significant employee involvement. Through effective communication, Ethan facilitates informed decision-making, leading to the implementation of optimal shift schedules and work systems that maximize long-term success for both the business and the employees.
Ethan loves to learn both informally and formally. Ethan earned a BS and MS in General Engineering as well as an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He began his career in the telecommunications and chemical industry. While working full time he went to Loyola University Chicago School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor (JD) and is a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois. Ethan started as a shiftwork consultant in 1997 and has been constantly developing his expertise in this field for more than 27 years.
Ethan believes that a company’s labor process must be as strategic and well-planned as its manufacturing, supply chain or customer service processes. The business needs must be met. However, through almost 3 decades of experience in this field, he knows that people are the most critical part of the labor process, as they will determine how well the enterprise will succeed in the long term.
Ethan lives in Indiana with his wife and daughters.
Meet Jim Dillingham
James Dillingham is a seasoned consultant and partner at Shiftwork Solutions LLC, specializing in workforce optimization and change management. With over 30 years of experience, he has helped companies across industries—including food processing, manufacturing, mining, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and logistics—design and implement shift schedules that align business needs with employee well-being.Â
Jim is passionate about implementing successful organizational change through data-driven strategies and employee engagement. His expertise ensures that workforce transitions enhance productivity, improve retention, and create sustainable scheduling solutions with strong employee buy-in. A sought-after speaker, Jim frequently shares insights on shiftwork best practices, safety, and operational efficiency at industry conferences and panels.Â
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Mathematics, Jim also earned a Master’s in Management from Purdue University and an MBA from ESC in Rouen, France. Before joining Shiftwork Solutions, he honed his expertise in operational leadership roles, including at PepsiCo Bottling Group.Â
Jim lives in San Rafael, California, with his wife and two dogs.Â
Meet Dan Capshaw
Dan Capshaw is a partner at Shiftwork Solutions LLC. For more than 32 years he has been helping companies evaluate, design and implement improved shift schedules and work systems. He has worked with just about every industry and field that has shiftwork operations, including food processing, manufacturing, customer service, distribution, maintenance, mining, chemicals, refining, and information technology.Â
Dan focuses on communication and participation with stakeholders in his projects. His goal is to develop a clear understanding of the facts to facilitate good decisions, and to identify and implement the optimal shift schedules and work systems for his clients.Â
Dan is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He performed post graduate work at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.   Dan started his career as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, working on several different nuclear powered submarines. After leaving the Navy he worked for two years for Chevron Corporation as a Chemical Engineer in their Operations Planning group. In 1992 Dan began his career as a shiftwork consultant and has been developing his expertise in this field for more than 28 years.
As a partner with Shiftwork Solutions, Dan focuses on change management. His process involves identifying and quantifying any change. He is a firm believer in employee involvement, careful business analysis and, when it comes to optimal work schedules, collaborative decision-making. He knows that that the business needs must be met, and that things run best when the workforce is happy.
Dan, an avid outdoorsman, lives in Ivins, UT with his wife, dog, and Boston Whaler.