1.
shift system; rotation system; shift work
A work schedule system where employees take turns working different time periods, ensuring continuous coverage. Common in factories, hospitals, and service industries.
この工場は交代制で稼働している。
This factory operates on a shift system.
看護師は三交代制で働いている。
The nurses work on a three-shift rotation.
交代制の勤務は生活リズムが崩れやすいのが難点だ。
The drawback of shift work is that it tends to disrupt your daily rhythm.
Common types: 二交代制 (two-shift system, typically day and night), 三交代制 (three-shift system, 8 hours each). Common collocations: 交代制勤務 (shift work), 交代制で働く (to work in shifts). The suffix ～制 indicates a system or structure: 会員制 (membership system), 予約制 (reservation-only system). Related: シフト制 (shift system — using the English loanword), 当番制 (duty rotation system).