Flexible Shift Schedules Becomes Large Focus in H2 2009

Core Practice Partners continues to see the growth in requests for flexible shift schedules for seasonal customer demand. As the global economy continues to change and shrink clients are calling. They don't have millions to spend on consulting, but need to save millions out of their operations. Inventory levels are being reduced to record lows to save costs, while clients still expect on demand access to goods. "This is not a shift in philosophy," stated John Frehse, Chief Strategist at Core Practice Partners. "This is taking the old philosophy and bringing it to the extreme." Clients like Campbell's Soup and Kraft are calling. The call centers aren't immune to this phenomenon either. Reducing idle time in those organizations has also become a focus. It translates into occupancy, but the cost is the same. For all of these companies, these increases in demand for cost reduction have meant at least the partial death of the 8 hour shift. They simply aren't flexible.