Navigating Night Shift Challenges: Communication, Teamwork, and the Need for Transparency

Another night shift has wrapped up, and it was eventful as always. One of the main challenges we faced was the food handover from production kitchens to our preparation teams. It sounds simple—one team prepares the food, and the next team packs it for flights. But in practice, when things don’t run as planned, small issues can turn into big bottlenecks.

Last night, the preparation teams encountered a frustrating roadblock: they didn’t have a clear understanding of what food items were yet to be handed over by the production kitchens. This lack of visibility made it challenging to keep track of what was missing and made it difficult to follow up directly. As I tried to find out what was still pending, I realized it wasn’t just about getting the right items on time—it was about communication and transparency, two things that are vital on a busy night shift.

To make matters more complicated, the FBU team leaders were also unaware of these shortages, which made it harder for them to effectively manage their teams and prioritize the packing process. When key information like this isn’t communicated, it impacts everyone’s ability to do their job effectively. We rely on team leaders to have a grasp on what’s available and what’s missing, so they can guide their teams accordingly.

Despite these hurdles, I wasn’t about to let the situation slow us down. I reached out to various sources, collecting information on what items were still missing and where the bottlenecks were happening. Through multiple follow-ups, I was able to coordinate with the production kitchen staff I knew well, influencing them to prioritize the items our preparation teams needed most. Their cooperation and willingness to adjust helped us get back on track, ensuring we hit our preparation targets.

While it felt rewarding to pull together in the face of these challenges, the experience highlighted an ongoing issue: the need for a better system to track food availability. A technology solution could offer us the transparency we’re missing, providing real-time updates on what items are available and which are still pending from production. With a shared view of inventory, team leaders, preparation staff, and production kitchens would be on the same page, reducing confusion and enhancing efficiency.

Night shifts will always bring unexpected challenges, but with the right tools and systems, we can minimize the guesswork and focus on delivering results. Until we have that solution in place, we’ll keep doing what we do best—working together, finding solutions, and making it happen, no matter what comes our way.