Shift Handover
When one shift ends and another begins at a continuous-cycle enterprise — where production runs uninterrupted from the moment raw materials are fed in until finished goods come out — it is critical to transfer control of the process carefully, without overlooking any key details.
Typically, the shift handover period is set by the employer in consultation with the trade union, if one exists, and does not exceed 30 minutes.
The duration of this process is influenced by:
- the volume of operational documentation;
- the amount of equipment involved in the technological process;
- and other factors.
Digital alternatives eliminate the need for specialists from both shifts to be physically present at the site at the same time, and they cut down on the time spent filling out logs and checklists. With such systems, the outgoing shift enters all necessary data into the database, which the incoming shift can instantly access.
One of these is the Logsheet.ai system. It can be applied to most enterprises across various industries:
- discrete manufacturing, which, according to the International Association of Industrial Engineers, is used in more than 75% of industrial enterprises worldwide. From a management standpoint, any discrete manufacturing environment is inherently complex. Each process follows a specific sequence and has varying throughput rates, so its parameters must be recorded — especially during shift handovers;
- continuous production, where a vast number of logs must be maintained — operational logs, mine air sample analysis logs, shaft inspection logs, work logs and shift handover logs — for example, in mining operations: quarries, mines and pits.
The specific information required depends on the company’s focus. The format can vary too: Logsheet.ai offers two options — a production log and a checklist.
The production log includes text and voice recordings, which are integrated with checklists, and generates reports for management based on those recordings. Reports can be compiled from multiple logs, providing a more comprehensive view of production progress. Logs are completed by each shift during handover, enabling incoming employees to quickly understand what was happening at the facility before their shift and what issues need attention during their work.
The checklist contains the items that the incoming shift most commonly needs to verify. For instance, it may include reviewing production log data upon arrival. Automation adds more visibility to routine tasks by allowing operators to mark items as completed once they are finished.
Electronic logs and checklists make it easy to quickly review any issues left by the previous shift, understand the tasks ahead for the incoming team, and thereby ensure process safety and the achievement of key performance targets.
