We are a sub contract manufacturing company. We have a machine which is fully booked for jobs for the next 10 weeks and we need to find a way of getting more out of it. One idea is that we look at possibly introducing some form of shift working which would allow us to use the machine for longer than 8 hours a day. We are not talking 24/7 just possibly longer working hours covered by different people. We currently work 7.30am – 4.30pm and are thinking that if we could have this machine continue past 4.30pm to 8 or even 10pm with a change of operator, it would make a big difference.
We have never had shifts in our company and therefore have no experience to draw on. Can anyone offer any advice on what sort of things we should consider, how we determine whether a shift allowance is appropriate, or where we might find additional information?
