Multiple shift scheduling of workforce on four-day workweeks

This paper presents an efficient algorithm for scheduling of employees work ing on four-day or three-day workweeks in industries operating on multiple shift basis. Such contexts prevail in manufacturing organisations such as p aper mills, steel plants and service organisations such as security or poli ce departments and hospitals. The objective is to arrive at the minimum wor kforce size and to produce schedules that meet demand and achieve certain d esired work characteristics. The pattern of demand for employees is such th at the number of employees required for each shift during weekdays is at le ast as large as the number required in the corresponding shift during weeke nds. The desired work characteristics are parameters relating to the freque ncy of weekends-off in the days-off, the length of the workstretches and th e transition time required when changing shifts.