Working Time Solutions’ approach to workforce planning and management helps manufacturers boost productivity by designing shift patterns and rosters that are completely aligned to demand.
Technology, workforce empowerment and globalised competition are creating significant challenges for manufacturers that operate legacy working patterns.
Any gap between labour supply and demand in manufacturing typically generates:
- High reliance on overtime and agency staff -
- Poorer quality of output -
- Employee stress or sickness -
- Breaches of working time or health and safety legislation -
By implementing Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours we've helped clients develop truly responsive resourcing that maximises hour-to-hour performance and efficiency levels...providing the mechanism to effectively manage demand variability, such as seasonality or supply exceptions such as holiday, absence or shut-downs.
Head to the bottom of this page to see which manufacturers we work with.
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Our work in manufacturing:
Anticipated ROI for manufacturers:
Flexibility and being an ‘employer of choice’ are essential if manufacturers are to remain competitive in volatile conditions.
Demand-Led Rostering can help you effectively respond to change whilst supporting recruitment and retention efforts. The right patterns enhance work-life balance, broaden the demographics of your labour pool and provide the certainty, fairness and flexibility many people find attractive and a key differentiator.
We also regularly see complex resourcing frameworks and disparate management systems in manufacturing that have developed over the years in response to changing demand and working practices.
Our approach ensures shift patterns and roster management systems are simple, flexible and remain fit for purpose.
This helps lower administrative overhead, reduces the risk of errors or compliance breaches and creates a single, secure, precise record of working time that integrates with other HR systems and supports decision making.
Our shift planning, scheduling and roster management tools will help you:
- Increase productivity & efficiency -
Reduce overtime and agency labour costs by making more effective use of your employees’ contracted hours.
- Strengthen recruitment & retention -
Create attractive and flexible working patterns which support diverse work-life balance demands.
- Support growth & change -
Increase the flexibility and responsiveness needed to quickly respond to threats and opportunities.
- Reduce health & safety risks -
Reduce long-hours working and associated fatigue-related issues.
- Secure compliance & governance -
Gain instant visibility over Working Time data across the workforce and effectively manage regulatory and customer demands.
- Enhance flexibility & responsiveness -
Use systems such as annualised hours and banked hours that are responsive to demand volatility, minimise underutilisation and reduce the need.
Events
Helping you create and maintain cost efficient shift patterns
Events
We are pleased to announce our webinar schedule for the first half of 2018
Case Studies
One of the UK's largest food manufacturers saved £1m by designing seasonal shift patterns that better met demand...reducing use of overtime and temporary labour
Case Studies
This food manufacturer's new shift patterns increased efficiency from 55% to 85%, while reducing administration time and boosting staff morale
White Papers
We explore the fundamentals of Annualised Hours including how the framework can address issues around productivity, flexibility and employee wellbeing
Blogs & Latest News
Brexit planning is driving many manufacturers to appraise their current working patterns
Case Studies
Introducing Demand Led-Rostering and Annualised Hours delivered a wide range of benefits for this manufacturer
Consult free with experts in working time, shift pattern design & workforce planning & management
Blogs & Latest News
Exploring shared sector pain points and how to address them
Blogs & Latest News
Highlights from the Ambulance Leadership Forum 2019
Blogs & Latest News
A summary of our article in Manufacturing Management which discusses whether manufacturers’ shift patterns are fit for purpose in tackling staff shortages.
Blogs & Latest News
Workforce planning will be key to avoiding operational problems or capitalising on opportunities.
Blogs & Latest News
This article explores the benefits optimised shift working delivers for employers and field-based service managers or engineers
Blogs & Latest News
Creating optimised and flexible shift patterns and rotas could strengthen utilities companies’ RIIO-2, PR19 and AMP7 plans.
Blogs & Latest News
Responsive resourcing systems are key to managing cyclical demand efficiently and effectively.
Blogs & Latest News
Major new release brings our specialist workforce planning and management system to the cloud
Blogs & Latest News
We're proud to have been recognised as delivering one of the most innovative European projects in the 'digitalisation at work’ field
Blogs & Latest News
Organisations which depend on zero hour contracts to meet fluctuating demand need to look at alternative resourcing models
Blogs & Latest News
Working Time Solutions hosted a unique event for Emergency Services focused on designing dynamic rosters that respond to changing demand profiles
Blogs & Latest News
Discussions at the Ambulance Leadership Forum highlighted the importance of engagement and adapting to change
Blogs & Latest News
WORKSuite® software helps Siemens Healthineers manage 7 days a week operation
Blogs & Latest News
Rosters, rotas, shifts…call them what you will; but resourcing patterns have the potential to influence many of the issues under discussion
Blogs & Latest News
We regularly host Workforce Planning events and free webinars designed specifically to help organisations looking to improve the productivity and wellbeing of shift workers
Blogs & Latest News
Airports looking to optimise shift patterns need to ensure their workforce planning and management systems are capable of handling seasonal peaks and fluctuations in demand
Blogs & Latest News
Barely a week goes by without something related to Working Time hitting the headlines
Blogs & Latest News
Adverse weather conditions can have a catastrophic effect on organisations which do not have contingency plans in place to ensure that the workforce is managed successfully
Blogs & Latest News
The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition
Blogs & Latest News
Brexit planning is driving many manufacturers to appraise their current working patterns and explore the benefits of investing in the implementation of Demand-Led Rostering
Events
The UK's leading event on optimising shift work - 9th October 2019
Events
Transforming shift work at the UK’s key HR event
Events
Free 1-2-1 consultation with our leading workforce planning and management consultants
Events
Build your knowledge around designing, implementing and managing demand-led rosters
Events
Develop your understanding of fatigue, share risk management experiences, discuss challenges & create solutions
Case Studies
A workforce planning and management solution to help Siemens Healthineers work 7 days a week
Case Studies
By designing optimised shift patterns, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency could meet variations in demand while reducing labour costs and protecting vital skills
Case Studies
One of the UK's largest food manufacturers saved £1m by designing seasonal shift patterns that better met demand...reducing use of overtime and temporary labour
Case Studies
This utility company modernised shift patterns for 300 emergency engineers to boost efficiency, streamline practices and meet new regulatory requirements
Case Studies
Dublin Airport Authority made significant and sustainable payroll savings by designing shift patterns that accurately reflect seasonal demand
Case Studies
Introducing Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours delivered a wide range of benefits for this manufacturer
Case Studies
This utility company designed new shift patterns to create £10m of efficiencies and meet regulatory demands
Case Studies
This food manufacturer's new shift patterns increased efficiency from 55% to 85%, while reducing administration time and boosting staff morale
Case Studies
New shift patterns prioritise work-life balance for Emirates Aluminium employees
Case Studies
This wine distributor implemented a new shift pattern with fully rostered holidays and an allowance of reserve hours to use during seasonal peaks in production
Case Studies
This venue removed its over-reliance on agency workers by designing efficient new shift patterns
Case Studies
Installing specialist software to provide a comprehensive database for the day-to-day planning, management and monitoring of working time
Case Studies
Implementing new shift patterns allowed this feed manufacturer to flex up during very busy periods and flex down during the quieter summer months
Case Studies
This venue's security team implemented an annualised hours system that reduced administration and provided clear visibility over shift patterns
Case Studies
The security team at this university reduced high levels of overtime, improving operational planning and giving employees a better work-life balance
Case Studies
This university implemented an annualised hours system which helped save money, reduce overtime and improve employees work-life balance
Case Studies
This healthcare business designed a 24/7 shift pattern to meet fluctuating demand for its services and provide flexibility for growth
Case Studies
Shift pattern design and rota scheduling software and services
White Papers
Does your approach to managing shift workers put you at risk of punitive fines, lost business or reputational damage?
White Papers
As passenger numbers increase, airports face significant challenges in ensuring that they have the right amount of staff in place at all times
White Papers
The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition
White Papers
Identify where the principal Working Time-related gaps may be in T&A/ERP systems and the common issues this creates
White Papers
Explore the fundamentals of Annualised Hours including how the framework can address issues around productivity, flexibility and employee wellbeing
White Papers
We explore the questions Brexit poses around workforce productivity, flexibility and compliance
White Papers
This paper looks at Annualised Hours and covers strategies to implement and manage this resourcing system
White Papers
Identify common causes of excessive hours, evidence the impact and look at how to tackle overworking
White Papers
How workforce planning can be used to mitigate risk, increase resilience and maintain compliance
White Papers
Offsetting rising labour costs through shift pattern design and effective roster management
White Papers
We look at how organisations can improve their productivity through changes to Working Time
White Papers
Identify common issues, evaluate gross/net hours systems and explore how to maintain productivity whilst accommodating annual leave
White Papers
The importance of employee engagement when making changes to Working Time
White Papers
We look at the 8 vs 12 hr shift debate, explore the advantages and disadvantages of both and help define the best solution for your organisation
White Papers
Tips and guidance on how to minimise disruption to the workforce during adverse weather
White Papers
Arguments for and against these shift patterns and potential alternatives
White Papers
Explore changes to flexible working regulations and how to assess requests in a shift work environment
White Papers
We provide an analysis of these two systems including advice for designing new shift patterns
Blogs & Latest News
Exploring shared sector pain points and how to address them
Blogs & Latest News
Highlights from the Ambulance Leadership Forum 2019
Blogs & Latest News
A summary of our article in Manufacturing Management which discusses whether manufacturers’ shift patterns are fit for purpose in tackling staff shortages.
Blogs & Latest News
Workforce planning will be key to avoiding operational problems or capitalising on opportunities.
Blogs & Latest News
This article explores the benefits optimised shift working delivers for employers and field-based service managers or engineers
Events
The UK's leading event on optimising shift work - 9th October 2019
Events
Transforming shift work at the UK’s key HR event
Case Studies
A workforce planning and management solution to help Siemens Healthineers work 7 days a week
Case Studies
By designing optimised shift patterns, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency could meet variations in demand while reducing labour costs and protecting vital skills
Case Studies
One of the UK's largest food manufacturers saved £1m by designing seasonal shift patterns that better met demand...reducing use of overtime and temporary labour
Case Studies
This utility company modernised shift patterns for 300 emergency engineers to boost efficiency, streamline practices and meet new regulatory requirements
White Papers
Does your approach to managing shift workers put you at risk of punitive fines, lost business or reputational damage?
White Papers
As passenger numbers increase, airports face significant challenges in ensuring that they have the right amount of staff in place at all times
White Papers
The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition
White Papers
Identify where the principal Working Time-related gaps may be in T&A/ERP systems and the common issues this creates
White Papers
Explore the fundamentals of Annualised Hours including how the framework can address issues around productivity, flexibility and employee wellbeing
