stoppages

Stoppage is the act or instance of stopping or being stopped; a stoppage can refer to a temporary interruption or a permanent cessation of a process, operation, or activity. The term is used across different contexts to describe a pause in production, transport, sporting events, or service delivery. Stoppages can be planned, as for maintenance or breaks, or unplanned, due to accidents, failures, or emergencies.

In labor relations, a stoppage commonly refers to a work stoppage or strike where workers withhold labor to pressure an employer over wages, conditions, or policies. Stoppages may be organized by unions and can involve partial or total cessation of work, with legal rules governing notice, duration, and resolution. Economic effects include lost production and potential wage loss; political effects can influence public policy.

In sports, a stoppage is a pause in play. Referees or game officials stop the clock for reasons such as fouls, injuries, or weather. Depending on the sport, stoppages may lead to a stoppage time or periods restarting with the appropriate clock rules.

In industry and manufacturing, stoppages describe downtime when equipment or production lines cease operating. Causes include equipment failure, preventive maintenance, changeovers, or supply disruptions. Reducing stoppages is a key goal of operations management and may involve maintenance scheduling, redundancy, and lean practices.

In utilities and transport, stoppages occur when services are interrupted, such as power outages, water supply interruptions, or transportation service suspensions due to incidents or weather. Planning aims to minimize duration and restore service swiftly, with resilience built through redundancy and contingency planning.