What We Do
We help operations leaders translate demand into the right people, at the right time. Our team models your workload, designs fair and fatigue-aware shifts, and implements schedules that protect service levels while controlling cost.
- Inefficiency: eliminate over/under-staffing, overtime spikes, and idle time.
- Fatigue & wellbeing: align nights, weekends, and turnaround with science-based limits.
- Fairness & engagement: transparent rules, bidding options, and rotation equity.
Outcomes you can expect:
- +3–8 pts service level and faster response times.
- 10–25% reduction in overtime and agency spend.
- Lower attrition and higher roster satisfaction scores.
Related: Services overview · Methods & tools · Latest insights
- Shift patterns and rotas: multiple options, KPIs, fairness metrics, fatigue checks.
- Coverage models: demand vs capacity visualisations and sensitivity analysis.
- Optimisation models: solver-ready with constraint documentation.
- Implementation playbooks: rules, bidding/assignment processes, exception handling.
- Governance setup: policy, change board templates, and escalation paths.
- Training & handover: enable your team to iterate and own the design.
Process & Timeline
Typical cadence (4–8 weeks):
- Week 1: Data discovery & goals.
- Weeks 2–3: Demand modeling and baseline assessment.
- Weeks 3–5: Scenario design and optimisation.
- Weeks 5–6: Pilot and refine with stakeholders.
- Weeks 6–8: Implementation playbook & handover.
Optional: extended pilot or multi-site rollout.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Your team: process SMEs, union/staff reps, data owner, project sponsor.
- Our team: OR consultants, optimisation specialist, change lead, trainer.
- Joint: steering cadence, decision gates, and communications plan.
We work transparently with repeatable artefacts so you can sustain improvements.
- What data do we need? Historic demand (contacts, jobs, arrivals), handle times/durations, current rosters, HR constraints, and business goals. We can work with imperfect data.
- How do you engage unions and staff? Co-design workshops, transparent rules/metrics, fairness trade-offs explained with evidence, and structured feedback rounds.
- Which tools do you use? Python/Julia, CP-SAT/MILP, spreadsheets, and our Roster Design Toolkit. Deliverables are tool-agnostic.
- Who owns the IP? You own your data and bespoke artefacts; we retain generic models/templates while granting you broad usage rights.
- How is pricing structured? Fixed-scope packages for defined problems; otherwise time & materials with clear milestones.
- Will shifts suit part-time/flexible staff? Yes—designs include part-time patterns, preferences, and bidding processes.
- Can you integrate with our WFM system? Yes—we align outputs to export/import formats or provide adapters.
See also: Methods & tools · Store
Ready to improve coverage and fairness?
Speak with C-Desk Technology’s Workforce Planning Studio. In a short discovery call we’ll understand your goals and recommend next steps.
Call: (+44) 01636 816466 · Email: alec@oranalysts.com
Prefer self-serve? Explore our Store for books, tutorials, and toolkits.
Shift working quietly powers the world around us. From the bread on your table to the aircraft you fly in, from your mobile phone network to the ports, pharmacies, and food producers that keep life moving — shift workers make it all possible.
You can download our booklet to explore the full range of products and services we offer, complete with clear diagrams that illustrate our proven methodology.
Our brochure lifts the lid on how different industries rely on smart, well‑designed shift patterns to stay safe, efficient, and resilient. If you want to understand how better shift operations can transform performance, reduce costs, and improve work–life balance, this is the perfect place to start.
Creating a shift pattern isn’t just a calculation — it’s an art. It means balancing holidays, skills, workload, wellbeing, budgets, fatigue, and future growth to build a sustainable operation where the business performs at its best and shift workers can truly thrive. If you want to see how we design the right people, in the right numbers, in the right place, at the right time — this booklet is the perfect place to begin.