Manufacturing has been the lynchpin on which the economic prosperity of not just the United States is built but also the entire developed world stands. Over the last few decades, offshoring was becoming the go to way for most businesses to save costs and make products cheaper. There have always been many hurdles in the offshoring journey towards the ever elusive cost savings like risk of intellectual property theft, decline in quality of output as well as low availability of the talent.
However, the events of the last few years and its impact on the global supply chain and rampant product shortages have made many businesses realize that keeping the manufacturing work onshore is a better deal and cost savings can also be achieved domestically with 12hr manufacture jobs and increased automation. By bringing back manufacturing and keeping it here, it is possible to get ‘compounding returns’ on the manufacturing experience that will be built here.
What are 12 hour manufacturing jobs?
Considering that US laws do not dictate shift timing. In a 12-hour shift schedule, employees might work for 12 hours straight, usually with additional time for breaks and meals incorporated into the shift. The most common configurations for 12-hour shifts are the "2-2-3" or "3-2-2-3" patterns, where employees work for two or three consecutive days followed by two or three days off. This kind of work has many advantages for the employees. While 12hr manufacture jobs do involve longer workdays, they also provide more consecutive days off. This extended time off can contribute to a better work-life balance for employees, allowing for more flexibility in personal and recreational activities.
Similarly longer shifts also lead to fewer trips to and from work in a given week this reduces commuting time and expenses for employees. This aspect is often considered a benefit, particularly if the workplace is located at a considerable distance from employees' homes. It also allows employees to get better manufacturing experience. Understandably acceptance of 12-hour shifts can depend on individual preferences. Some employees appreciate the longer periods of time off, while others may find the extended workdays more challenging. Preferences can also be influenced by factors such as family commitments and personal lifestyle.
Advantages for the Company:
A company which runs a 12 hour manufacturing shift stands to gain a lot from such a job schedule. A 12-hour shift schedule allows for extended operating hours without increasing the number of working days. This can be particularly advantageous for industries that require continuous or around-the-clock production, leading to improved capacity utilization. Longer shifts can lead to increased productivity as employees have more consecutive hours to focus on tasks without the interruption of shift changes. This continuous work period may result in better workflow and efficiency. There is also anecdotal evidence that such shifts allow employees to get good manufacturing experience in the business with which they can contribute to further streamlining of the process.
An often overlooked advantage of 12hr manufacture jobs is that it is very useful in installations with a lot of automation. As automation takes away a lot of physical labor that the staff will have to put in, employees can become more of a supervisor, observer or quality assurance person which will allow them to look at the bigger picture of the manufacturing process. They can spend their longer shifts taking on and helping trainee employees under their wing who can grow up to be readily available staff for further expansion of the business.
Similarly almost all industries need maintenance and in cases where equipment maintenance or facility shutdowns are necessary, longer shifts can provide more extended periods for these activities without disrupting regular production schedules. This can result in more efficient maintenance practices.