3-Shift Schedule Generator Tutorial - Step by Step

Introduction

The future of three-shift work schedule planning is here! With ShiftGo.site, you can generate optimal monthly schedules for your employees working in a three-shift system: morning (R), afternoon (P) and night (N). Our advanced tool uses next-generation optimization algorithms, ensuring the best possible solutions for your company.

Step by step: creating a three-shift schedule

Step 1: Enter basic data

After entering the site, provide basic information:

• Planning year and month - specify the period for which you want to generate the schedule
• Public holidays - provide holiday days (e.g. 1,3,15) that may affect work organization
• Number of workers - specify the number of people in the team (up to 30 workers marked with letters A-Z, AA-AD)

Step 2: Work constraint configuration

Adjust parameters to your company's specifics:

• Daily constraints: min/max workers per shift on workdays, weekends and holidays
• Individual constraints: min/max shifts per worker per month
• Work rules: one shift per day, no consecutive shifts
• Weekends: minimum number of free weekends, whole weekends free
• Balancing: even distribution of morning, afternoon and night shifts

Step 3: Advanced solver options

Use optimization functions:

• Overtime penalties: maximum number of consecutive work days
• Rest rewards: preferences for 2-3 consecutive days off
• Penalty value: constraint enforcement strength

Step 4: Pre-planning shifts (optional)

Before generating the schedule, you can pre-plan shifts:

• Worker calendar: select a worker and click days in the calendar
• Color meanings:
  • 🟢 Green - morning shift (R)
  • 🔵 Blue - afternoon shift (P)
  • 🟣 Purple - night shift (N)
  • 🔴 Red - no work (all shifts forbidden)
  • 🟠 Orange - doesn't work morning (!R)
  • 🟡 Yellow - doesn't work afternoon (!P)
  • ⚫ Gray - doesn't work at night (!N)

Step 5: Generate schedule

Click "Create work schedule" to run the optimization algorithm. The system will process all constraints and generate an optimal monthly plan.

🎯 Interactive features of the resulting schedule

After generating the schedule, you'll get advanced tools for its modification:

✏️ Single cell editing

• Click a schedule cell - you'll immediately get green morning shift with red border
• Subsequent clicks cycle through all options: R → P → N → all forbidden → !R → !P → !N → return to original state
• Red border indicates active constraint that will be respected during re-generation

🔒 Freezing workers (columns)

• Click worker header (e.g. "A", "B", "C")
• First click: freezes the entire worker - all their cells get red borders and current schedule is saved as constraints
• Second click: unfreezes the worker - removes all constraints for that person
• Benefits: you can "lock" the schedule of selected workers and regenerate the rest

📅 Freezing days (rows)

• Click day number (e.g. "5", "12", "25")
• First click: freezes the entire day - all cells of that day get red borders
• Second click: unfreezes the day - removes constraints for all workers of that day
• Benefits: you can "lock" specific days (e.g. important event) and regenerate the rest

💾 Configuration management

• Save to JSON file: save entire configuration with constraints
• Load from JSON file: restore previously saved configuration
• Automatic activation: system automatically activates "Pre-planned shifts" function when you add any constraints

🏆 Why use ShiftGo.site?

• 🧠 Smart algorithms: use of advanced optimization algorithms for optimal solutions
• 🎨 Intuitive interface: colorful markings and interactive table
• ⚡ Lightning-fast optimization: results in seconds even for large teams
• 🔧 Full control: freezing workers and days for precise modifications
• 💼 Comprehensiveness: handling all aspects of three-shift work
• 📊 Transparency: preview of summaries and statistics for each worker
• 🎯 Weekend highlighting: pink color for completely free weekends

💡 Usage tips

• Start with basic configuration - generate first schedule with default settings
• Use freezing functions gradually - start by freezing individual days or workers
• Save configurations - keep successful settings for the future
• Experiment with constraints - every company has unique needs

Start planning today! ShiftGo.site is the most advanced tool for creating three-shift schedules in Poland. See how much it can simplify work time management in your company.