In manufacturing, labour cost overruns and production delays are often the result of poor scheduling. Business Central users looking to balance workforce demands without overstaffing can benefit from structured, data-driven shift management directly inside their ERP.
How can I reduce overtime and avoid labour cost overruns?
Manufacturers often face challenges like unnecessary overtime, delays caused by misaligned shifts, and manual scheduling processes. Shop Floor Insight for Business Central addresses these issues with:
- Automated shift patterns
- Visual calendars for easy changes
- Barcode-based and mobile time tracking
- Real-time labour utilisation data
By aligning shifts with production demand, manufacturers avoid excess payroll expenses and improve efficiency.
What are recurring shift patterns and how do they help?
Recurring shift patterns eliminate the need to manually assign shifts each week. You define the cycle—like morning, afternoon, and night shifts—and the system applies it automatically. This supports consistent staffing while reducing administrative overhead.
Can managers adjust shifts visually and in real time?
Yes. A visual shift calendar allows quick updates when demand changes. For example, if a last-minute order requires more workers on a night shift, a manager can reassign staff in seconds and notify them automatically.
How does mobile time tracking work on the shop floor?
Employees can clock in/out using barcodes or mobile devices. The system:
- Tracks attendance in real time
- Lets employees check shifts or request changes
- Integrates with payroll and supports automated approvals
- Logs overtime to prevent unnecessary costs
This removes paper timecards and improves accuracy.
What insights can I gain from real-time labour tracking?
With access to labour trends and performance data, managers can spot inefficiencies. For example, if productivity drops after weekends, data may reveal overtime fatigue. Adjusting schedules based on this insight improves outcomes.
You can read more about shift scheduling and time tracking in this blog post.
Disclosure: This summary reflects user-facing capabilities available within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central when extended with tools for shift scheduling and time tracking. No paid content included.
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