What is the DuPont shift schedule?

A 28-day cycle for four crews on 12-hour shifts. Each crew works 4 nights, has 3 days off, works 3 days, has 1 day off, works 3 nights, has 3 days off, works 4 days and then has 7 days off. The pack's pattern page shows all four crews on a calendar and works out that each crew averages 42 hours a week, with one 72-hour workweek in the cycle when the workweek starts Monday at the day shift start.

What is the difference between the Pitman and the Panama schedule?

Both use the rhythm 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off with four crews and 12-hour shifts. In the Pitman schedule as the pack defines it, the day crews stay on days and the night crews stay on nights, over 14 days. In the Panama schedule each crew works 14 days of days and then 14 days of nights. Sources do not agree on every detail of the names, and the pack says where, on each pattern page.

Does a 12-hour shift pattern mean overtime?

Under the US federal weekly rule overtime is due for hours over 40 in a workweek, and each workweek stands alone. A pattern that averages 42 hours has weeks over 40 and weeks under, and only the weeks over count. The pack counts the hours in each workweek for the start day you choose. States can add daily overtime and a contract can add more, so check yours. This is a planning tool, not legal advice.

How many crews do I need for 24/7 cover?

Four for most 12-hour patterns here, and three for the DDNNOO pattern, which averages 56 hours a week. The pack computes whether every hour of the week has exactly one crew on shift, and shows two crews on 12-hour shifts cover only 12 hours a day. Plan cover for absence on top of the crews.

Can I use my own shift pattern in the Excel file?

Yes. On the Patterns sheet, type a name, a shift set and one cycle string per crew, for example DDDD---- for four 12-hour days on and four off. The crews, cycle length, hours, average hours a week and longest runs are worked out by formula, and the roster and hours check can use your pattern.

Free template

Updated October 21, 2026

Shift schedule pack

A shift schedule is a repeating cycle of day shifts, night shifts and days off for each crew. This pack defines ten of them exactly: DuPont, Pitman, Panama, three versions of 4 on 4 off, Continental, Southern Swing, DDNNOO and a two-shift weekday plan. Every figure is worked out from the cycle: crews needed, average hours a week, longest runs, weekends fully off and whether every hour has exactly one crew on shift. It also shows which workweeks go over 40 hours under the US weekly rule. The PDF has a page for each pattern with a 28-day calendar that works in black and white. The Excel roster puts any pattern on real dates for up to six crews, adds up each crew's hours per workweek and flags the weeks over 40. You can type your own cycle into it. The free planner does the same in your browser.

Free to use: print it, copy it and edit it for your team. Enter your name and work email once to download.

Page 1 of the shift schedule pack — 10 patterns, exact cycles28-day calendarsCrews, hours, weekends computedEvery hour covered check40-hour workweek checkHow to chooseBefore you switch90-day Excel roster

When to use it

When to use a shift schedule pack

When you are choosing between 8-hour and 12-hour patterns and want the average hours, the weekends off and the longest runs side by side.
When someone proposes DuPont, Pitman, 4 on 4 off or a continental pattern and you need to see the exact cycle and what it does to overtime before you agree.
When you have to put a pattern on real dates for each crew, with names, so the crews can see their own calendar.
When payroll asks how many workweeks go over 40 hours, and you need the answer for each workweek start day.
When a pattern has several names on the web and you need to know which cycle people mean.

How to fill it in

1
Decide what you must cover
Every hour of every day, or one or two shifts on weekdays. A 24/7 plant needs 3 or 4 crews with the patterns here; a weekday plant can use the two-shift pattern.
2
Read the pattern side by side
Page 3 lists every pattern with crews, hours, longest run, weekends off and the average hours over 40 a week. Pick two to look at.
3
Open the page for each candidate
Each page has the exact cycle for every crew in a 28-day calendar, the computed properties, the weeks over 40 and what the numbers show and what to watch, with the sources behind the definition.
4
Run the 40-hour check with your workweek start
The overtime rule counts each workweek on its own, so the day and hour your workweek starts matters. Try each start in the Excel Hours check sheet or in the planner.
5
Put it on real dates
Use the Excel roster or the planner with your start date and crew names, and print the 90 days or the 8 weeks. Show it to the crews before you decide.
6
Settle the rest before you switch
Page 15 lists what to settle first: the crew, the contract, the law that applies to you, the workweek start, the changeover, cover for absence and a review date.

A filled-in example

Illustrative, not a benchmark

An example: a plant running one line 24/7 is considering DuPont.

DuPont needs 4 crews. Each crew works 14 twelve-hour shifts in the 28-day cycle: 168 hours, an average of 42 hours a week.
With a workweek starting Monday at 07:00, crew A works 48, 72, 48 and 0 hours in the four workweeks.
Under the US weekly rule the weeks stand alone: 8 + 32 + 8 = 48 hours over 40 in 28 days, which is 12 hours a week on average, not the 2 that the 42-hour average suggests.
The longest run of night shifts is 4. The UK Health and Safety Executive guidance HSG256 says to limit 12-hour night shifts to 2-3 in a row, so the plant adds that to the questions it takes to the crews.
The calendar shows each crew has 7 days off in a row once every 28 days, and 2 of 4 weekends fully off when day 1 is a Monday.

The plant sees the cost and the fatigue question in numbers before it decides, and compares the same figures for Pitman, Panama and Continental in a few minutes.

Common mistakes

Planning overtime from the average
A 42-hour average does not mean 2 hours of overtime a week. The weekly rule does not average, so weeks over 40 count in full. Look at each workweek.
Assuming two crews cover 24 hours
With 12-hour shifts, two crews cover 12 hours a day. Cover around the clock needs a crew on each shift every day: four crews for most 12-hour patterns.
Copying a pattern by its name
The same name is used for different cycles on different sites, and one cycle has several names. Check the cycle, not the label.
Ignoring where day 1 falls
Whether a crew gets a full weekend depends on the weekday the cycle starts. Check the weekends with your start date.
Forgetting cover for absence
The crews in a pattern are the minimum. Plan who covers when someone is out, before the first shift.
Skipping the contract and the state
A union agreement or a state rule can set shift length, premium pay or daily overtime. The weekly check here does not know about them.

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Free to use: print it, copy it and edit it for your team. Enter your name and work email once to download.

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A job cover matrix shows who is qualified to cover each job. LeanSuite builds it from skill levels and signed-off procedures, so you can cover an absence fast and spot single points of failure.

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