When businesses grow, they sometimes reach a point where the managers start to think about working 7 days a week, i.e. a continuous 24/7 operation. Here are some of the common reasons they decide to make this change:

• The cost of starting and shutting down equipment on the weekends is expensive. Although this weekly shut-down may provide an opportunity for maintenance, it also can result in the loss of product and unnecessary cleaning costs. In food processing plants, for example, any product left in place when the equipment is stopped will spoil or clog up the machinery. By operating continuously, these weekly clean-up costs can be avoided.
  
  
• The cost of acquiring additional equipment is too high. It's cheaper to maximize the output from the equipment you already have. This means running it for as many hours as possible each week, including weekends.
  
  
• The company has run out of space. This applies to businesses that aren't typically thought of as shiftwork operations. For example, an office that has out-grown it current space may find it cheaper to operate multiple shifts and / or 7 days a week to avoid moving to a larger space or moving part the workforce into another facility.
  
  
• To be competitive, companies want to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. If they are closed on the weekends, this delays the fulfillment process and may cause customers to seek other vendors that promise faster delivery. With a 7-day schedule, orders can come in on Thursday or Friday be filled on the weekend rather than waiting until Monday.
  
  
• If production works 7 days a week, this can reduce the amount of goods in storage. Since shipping normally occurs on weekdays, inventory can be allowed to run low during the week and replenished by the weekend production.
  
  
• In tight labor markets, offering a 7-day shift schedule for at least part of the company can attract employees who want more days off each week and the higher pay found with 24/7 schedules.
  
  

I'm sure there are other reasons for adopting a 7-day schedule. In most cases, it is a combination of several issues and cost considerations that drive the decision.