Blogs & Latest News
Seasonal shift patterns in manufacturing: Don’t let peak production periods harm your business
Responsive resourcing systems are key to managing cyclical demand efficiently and effectively.
Contact us
+44 (0)161 720 5050
Major new WORKSuite®release - find out more
Working Time Solutions will help you to continuously build on the benefits created by our approach to shift planning, scheduling and management.
An agile and responsive approach to workforce planning and management will ensure shift patterns and rotas remain optimised and constantly aligned to changing demand and employee needs.
Our Lean-ER® process will help you embed a 'change-ready' mind-set and use partnership and knowledge transfer to encourage ongoing flexibility in the workplace.
You can find out more about the Continuous Improvement services we offer below.
We can provide:
- Training to build the skills and understanding in-house to maintain productivity
- Regular monitoring, reviews and fine-tuning of systems to ensure optimal results
- Helplines to support with consultancy, training or technical enquiries
- Tailored system updates with new powerful planning and management tools
- Regular compliance and best practice ‘health checks’ to ensure your organisation is not at risk
Our goal is to put you in a strong position to anticipate and react quickly to change.
We can help you to remain lean and responsive, two traits that are at the heart of long-term success.
Book a free 1-2-1 consultation at our Shift Planning Clinics
Consult free with experts in working time, shift pattern design & workforce planning & management
Blogs & Latest News
The importance of cloud software in shift working environments
Major new release brings our specialist workforce planning and management system to the cloud
Blogs & Latest News
Views from the ‘Digital Works for People’ conference 2018
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
Increasing predictability with demand-led rostering and annualised hours
Organisations which depend on zero hour contracts to meet fluctuating demand need to look at alternative resourcing models
Blogs & Latest News
Sharing best practice at the Emergency Services Roster Review Seminar
Working Time Solutions hosted a unique event for Emergency Services focused on designing dynamic rosters that respond to changing demand profiles
Blogs & Latest News
Rotas that meet demand and employee aspirations will be key to the future of ambulance services
Discussions at the Ambulance Leadership Forum highlighted the importance of engagement and adapting to change
Blogs & Latest News
Managing 24/7 shift patterns for Siemens
WORK Suite® software helps Siemens Healthineers manage 7 days a week operation
Blogs & Latest News
Ambulance Leadership Forum - Time is of the essence
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
Looking to improve shift patterns? Our Workforce Planning Events and Webinars will help
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
Workforce Optimisation…plugging technology gaps in an airport environment
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
2017 - Working Time in review
Barely a week goes by without something related to Working Time hitting the headlines
Blogs & Latest News
4 steps to minimise the impact of adverse weather this winter
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
Healthy…happy…flexible - Shift patterns & employer brand
The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition
Blogs & Latest News
Views from the 2017 Food and Drink IT Summit: Brexit & the importance of flexible shift patterns
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
Blogs & Latest News
Emergency services: Rosters that support performance, budgets and work-life balance
The rosters have ensured more crews are available to respond to emergency calls which has improved response times
Blogs & Latest News
Shift pattern sickness? Protecting employee health with Working Time arrangements
4 key considerations when exploring the impact your shift patterns may be having on employee health
Blogs & Latest News
How many days in a year? The mechanics of Working Time
Demand planning is a key element of workforce planning and management
Blogs & Latest News
WTS features in Manufacturing Management asking: Is it time to look again at Annualised Hours?
How Annualised Hours can support manufacturers’ responsiveness, productivity and resilience during a time of strategic workforce challenges
Blogs & Latest News
How’s your balance? Considering shift workers in ‘Work-life week’
For organisations with working hours outside the traditional 9am - 5pm, the task of reaching a good work-life balance becomes significantly more challenging
Blogs & Latest News
Avoiding Ryanair's Holiday Planning Headaches
"Holidays are supposed to be relaxing…but for those involved in workforce planning and management they are often an administrative nightmare"
Events
Workforce Planning Masterclass
The UK's leading event on optimising shift work - 16th May 2019
Events
Shift Planning Clinics
Free 1-2-1 consultation with our leading workforce planning and management consultants
Events
Working Fatigue Risk Management in Practice: A Working Time Solutions & HSE Joint Event
Develop your understanding of fatigue, share risk management experiences, discuss challenges & create solutions
Case Studies
Siemens Healthineers
A workforce planning and management solution to help Siemens Healthineers work 7 days a week
Case Studies
Maritime & Coastguard Agency
By designing optimised shift patterns, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency could meet variations in demand while reducing labour costs and protecting vital skills
Case Studies
Premier Foods
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
Wales & West Utilities
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
Dublin Airport Authority made significant and sustainable payroll savings by designing shift patterns that accurately reflects seasonal demand
Case Studies
PPG
Introducing Demand-Led Rostering and Annualised Hours delivered a wide range of benefits for this manufacturer
Case Studies
Cheshire West and Chester Council
This local authority used Demand-Led Rostering to deliver efficiencies whilst protecting jobs
Case Studies
Thames Water
This utility company designed new shift patterns to create £10m of efficiencies and meet regulatory demands
Case Studies
Unilever
This food manufacturer's new shift patterns increased efficiency from 55% to 85%, while reducing administration time and boosting staff morale
Case Studies
Emirates Aluminium
New shift patterns prioritise work-life balance for Emirates Aluminium employees
Case Studies
Accolade Wines
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
Celtic Manor
This venue removed its over-reliance on agency workers by designing efficient new shift patterns
Case Studies
INEOS
Installing specialist software to provide a comprehensive database for the day-to-day planning, management and monitoring of working time
Case Studies
l'Anson
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
York Minster
This venue's security team implemented an annualised hours system that reduced administration and provided clear visibility over shift patterns
Case Studies
The University of Northampton
The security team at this university reduced high levels of overtime, improving operational planning and giving employees a better work-life balance
Case Studies
University of London
This university implemented an annualised hours system which helped save money, reduce overtime and improve employees work-life balance
Case Studies
Health Assured
This healthcare business designed a 24/7 shift pattern to meet fluctuating demand for its services and provide flexibility for growth
White Papers
A ticking time bomb?...The 'top 10' Working Time risks
Does your approach to managing shift workers put you at risk of punitive fines, lost business or reputational damage?
White Papers
Workforce optimisation...plugging technology gaps in an airport environment
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
Healthy…happy…flexible - Using shift patterns to enhance employer brand
The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition
White Papers
Mind the gap - Overcoming Working Time shortfalls in T&A / ERP systems
Identify where the principal Working Time-related gaps may be in T&A/ERP systems and the common issues this creates
White Papers
Making Annualised Hours work for the UK - Exploring a 'new' way of working
Explore the fundamentals of Annualised Hours including how the framework can address issues around productivity, flexibility and employee wellbeing
White Papers
Shifting sands...Brexit's impact on workforce planning and management
We explore the questions Brexit poses around workforce productivity, flexibility and compliance
White Papers
Annualised hours...a brief introduction to this efficient approach to resourcing
This paper looks at Annualised Hours and covers strategies to implement and manage this resourcing system
White Papers
Smarter not harder...avoiding the trap of excessive working hours
Identify common causes of excessive hours, evidence the impact and look at how to tackle overworking
White Papers
Weather the storm…preparing the utilities workforce for extreme events
How workforce planning can be used to mitigate risk, increase resilience and maintain compliance
White Papers
National Living Wage...using shift patterns to offset rising costs
Offsetting rising labour costs through shift pattern design and effective roster management
White Papers
Solving the puzzle...improving workforce productivity
We look at how organisations can improve their productivity through changes to Working Time
White Papers
Holiday headaches...planning annual leave for shift workers
Identify common issues, evaluate gross/net hours systems and explore how to maintain productivity whilst accommodating annual leave
White Papers
All aboard...gaining employee buy-in for a Working Time change
The importance of employee engagement when making changes to Working Time
White Papers
The great debate...8 Vs 12 hour shift patterns
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
Mind your step...managing a workforce during adverse weather
Tips and guidance on how to minimise disruption to the workforce during adverse weather
White Papers
Hard day's night ...permanent night shifts and the alternatives
Arguments for and against these shift patterns and potential alternatives
White Papers
Flexi friend...handling flexible working requests from shift workers
Explore changes to flexible working regulations and how to assess requests in a shift work environment
White Papers
In the mix...rotational Vs fixed shift patterns
We provide an analysis of these two systems including advice for designing new shift patterns
Blogs & Latest News
Seasonal shift patterns in manufacturing: Don’t let peak production periods harm your business
Responsive resourcing systems are key to managing cyclical demand efficiently and effectively.
Blogs & Latest News
The importance of cloud software in shift working environments
Major new release brings our specialist workforce planning and management system to the cloud
Blogs & Latest News
Views from the ‘Digital Works for People’ conference 2018
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
Increasing predictability with demand-led rostering and annualised hours
Organisations which depend on zero hour contracts to meet fluctuating demand need to look at alternative resourcing models
Blogs & Latest News
Sharing best practice at the Emergency Services Roster Review Seminar
Working Time Solutions hosted a unique event for Emergency Services focused on designing dynamic rosters that respond to changing demand profiles
Events
Workforce Planning Masterclass
The UK's leading event on optimising shift work - 16th May 2019
Events
Shift Planning Clinics
Free 1-2-1 consultation with our leading workforce planning and management consultants
Events
Working Fatigue Risk Management in Practice: A Working Time Solutions & HSE Joint Event
Develop your understanding of fatigue, share risk management experiences, discuss challenges & create solutions
Case Studies
Siemens Healthineers
A workforce planning and management solution to help Siemens Healthineers work 7 days a week
Case Studies
Maritime & Coastguard Agency
By designing optimised shift patterns, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency could meet variations in demand while reducing labour costs and protecting vital skills
Case Studies
Premier Foods
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
Wales & West Utilities
This utility company modernised shift patterns for 300 emergency engineers to boost efficiency, streamline practices and meet new regulatory requirements
White Papers
A ticking time bomb?...The 'top 10' Working Time risks
Does your approach to managing shift workers put you at risk of punitive fines, lost business or reputational damage?
White Papers
Workforce optimisation...plugging technology gaps in an airport environment
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
Healthy…happy…flexible - Using shift patterns to enhance employer brand
The battle for talent feels like it’s turning into a war of attrition
White Papers
Mind the gap - Overcoming Working Time shortfalls in T&A / ERP systems
Identify where the principal Working Time-related gaps may be in T&A/ERP systems and the common issues this creates
White Papers
Making Annualised Hours work for the UK - Exploring a 'new' way of working
Explore the fundamentals of Annualised Hours including how the framework can address issues around productivity, flexibility and employee wellbeing