Finding the Overtime Sweet Spot in Manufacturing

Shelby
Shelby Skrhak
Jul 3, 2019
compensation Frank Pereira Podcast Ken Litke Podcast Logistics manufacturing overtime payment Promoted Content Shelby Skrhak podcast workflow Workforce

 

Is overtime a good thing or a bad thing for a workforce and their employer? In this episode of the AEC Podcast, host Shelby Skrhak sat down with two experts — Frank Pereira and Ken Litke — to better understand the ins and outs of overtime and discover its elusive sweet spot.

“Every plant has a different DNA for overtime, where some places despise it, and some places love it,” Litke said.

Litke is a retired supply chain and manufacturing VP who has lead operations for Diageo, Land O’Lakes, Miller Coors, and Pillsbury and has turned to Coleman Consulting for help with overtime issues. Pereira is a US Naval Academy Grad, Gulf War veteran, and UC Berkeley MBA who is managing partner of Coleman Consulting Group. He’s worked with numerous Global 1000 companies to help them solve scheduling and productivity issues.

Frank Pereira saysPereira said overusing overtime can be a vicious cycle where employees come to rely on extra overtime income as almost an “addiction” but risk burning out employees because of long hours and unpredictable schedules.

But when used correctly, overtime is essential to a productive, optimally-functioning shift. “Overtime is your best way to match your workforce to your workload,” Pereira said.

The key is using data to discover where the optimal balance is, they both said. On this episode, Pereira and Litke discussed how they found the overtime “sweet spot” at MillerCoors, the importance of ascertaining an individual’s tolerance for overtime, and dispel the notion that no overtime is good for business.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Career Development for Global Pediatric Nurses
Career Development for Global Pediatric Nurses
December 18, 2025

The Care Anywhere podcast is spotlighting a new global partnership designed to strengthen pediatric nursing education and recognition worldwide. In this episode, host Lea Sims sits down with leaders from TruMerit and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) to unpack a new pediatric nursing micro-credential pathway launching in 2026, and why it…

Read More
dementia
Caregiver Engagement Is the Missing Link in Dementia Care: Why Empowering Families Drives Better Outcomes and Lower Costs
December 17, 2025

Dementia is becoming one of healthcare’s most difficult problems to ignore. As the population ages, more families are finding themselves responsible for loved ones who can no longer manage their own care, communicate symptoms clearly, or navigate the healthcare system. Research shows that people living with dementia are hospitalized far more often than those without it—even…

Read More
military
Just Thinking… About Applying Military Discipline and Decision-Making to Entrepreneurial Growth with Kris Groves
December 17, 2025

Career transitions rarely follow a straight line—especially for people coming out of the military. For many veterans, the challenge isn’t discipline or work ethic, but figuring out how deeply technical, high-stakes experience translates into civilian industries that speak a very different language. As more service members step into entrepreneurship, the real question becomes less about…

Read More
Hiring
Hiring Rewired: Human Intelligence in the AI-Driven Job Market
December 16, 2025

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape recruiting—from resume screening and job descriptions to candidate sourcing and interview workflows—the hiring process has become faster, more automated, and increasingly complex. According to the World Economic Forum, approximately 88% of companies now use some form of AI to filter or rank job applications, signaling how deeply embedded automation…

Read More
Related
construction
Software & Technology
Empowering Excellence: How Rick Ward Elevates Southwest Construction Services
November 13, 2025
training
Healthcare
Empowering Teams Through a Modern Training Culture
November 13, 2025

Training may be the backbone of any skilled trade, but in waterproofing—where mistakes can compromise entire structures—it becomes a defining competitive advantage. At Southwest Construction Services, the evolution of training reflects a larger industry shift: seasoned crews now rely less on formal classroom sessions and more on hyper-focused, on-site guidance tailored to the…

Read More
quality assurance
Healthcare
Ensuring Excellence: How Quality Assurance Shapes Every Successful Project
November 13, 2025

In an era of rising climate volatility and tighter construction tolerances, waterproofing has quietly become one of the most consequential guardians of a building’s long-term health. Too often, the industry treats it as an afterthought—something buried behind walls, beneath slabs, or under layers of finish—but the truth is that its success or failure can…

Read More