Managing Retail Operations - Assignment Example

MANAGING RETAIL OPERATIONS Student’s Name Course Professor’s Name University City (State) Date Managing Retail Operations Introduction Operation management is a method used to convert different inputs like labor, proprietary information and materials into outputs such as goods, services, and value-added products. The operations management method includes capacity planning, forecasting, managing inventories, scheduling, motivating employees, assuring quality, and control of activity in an organization (Katz 1997). In many instances, operation management focuses on improving customer services and providing quality products and performances to the customers. One of the industries that operation management is necessary to meet the demands of the customers is the food industry. Many restaurant managers make sure that their restaurants provide quality products and quick and efficient services to the customers (Katz 1997). In exploring operation management, this essay analyzes the elements of operational design in McDonalds, the UK chain, and how McDonalds and Ed’s Easy Diner meet the consumer’s demands. TASK 1 Elements of operational design at McDonalds Operations design McDonald aims at supplying the customers with fresh and quality products, which has made the management purchase raw materials such as fresh vegetables for pre-defined suppliers only. In doing this, the company can increase its production proportionately by increasing its labor and capital (Slack, Chambers, & Johnston 2007). The operations of the company are aimed at reducing the costs and making sure that the customers are served with top quality products. The main aim of increasing labor and capital is to make sure that while customers are served fast and efficiently, it doesn’t come a time when the joint runs out of any product that a customer requires. At the restaurant level, the British franchise is more focused on sustainable packaging, energy conservation, and waste management. As a result, most restaurants in the country are more focused on improving their operations to build a more environment-friendly, suitable and profitable business. Performance Objectives Initially, the McDonald UK branch used to make food quickly before the joint invented its fast-food operations system. The fast processing of foods required less preparation time. However, this kind of service required the joint to have good cooks that were well trained and skilled. Lack of enough good cooks resulted in the joint employing many unskilled workers (Slack, Chambers, & Johnston 2007). Fortunately for the company, the management implemented the Speede Kitchen system that was invented by the McDonald brothers. The Speede Kitchen made it easy for the joint to achieve its performance objectives, which are to offer quick services and quality products to the customers. The kitchen system provided the employees with a large grill where they could prepare many burgers simultaneously. It also provided them with fryers where different employees could make French fries while others are working on other products (McDonald 2007). The new system also had a milkshake machine and soda fountain for beverages. It offered counters where customers can place and receive their orders. Meeting customer requirements The arrival of the McDonalds restaurant in Britain changed many things about restaurants in the country. It changed how and what the British people eat. Its marketing was mainly customer-focused. In providing different products and fast services, McDonalds has made eating in the country to become a leisure experience for families. The fact that the restaurants all over the country can deliver fast food as promised has made it a favorite among many people (McDonald 2007). The franchise provides a quality environment for the families, which makes it easy for many people to have fun in the place. In its initial years in the country, McDonald struggled to make its mark on the British soil, mainly because its brand and approach initially traded on novelty factor and American heritage. In opening the first restaurants in Britain, the management knew the importance of educating the customers on the new concept of fast eating and counter-service (Schlosser 2001). The move proved to be successful as many people started going to the joints. Since attaining a good number of customers, the British Franchise is always keen to turn the services of the company around with the aim of meeting customer demands. One way that the company has done this is through the innovation of logistics and manufacturing, which has played a great role in increasing the efficiency of the supply chain in the buying policies, technology selections, and in terms of capacity (Schlosser 2001). The restaurant is committed to providing the customers with highest quality products and good services. In making sure that this is achieved, the franchise provides the services at a great value, and in a welcoming and clean environment (Schlosser 2001). Thus, the franchise works together with the suppliers and the employees to serve the consumers with balanced food choices. The franchise provides the customers with healthy and nutrition information, which helps the customers make sound decisions. TASK 2 How both McDonalds and Ed’s Easy Diner meets the needs of consumers Ed’s Easy Diner has done a lot to meet the needs of customers. For many years, people with certain diseases such as coeliac disease and other types of allergies could not eat burgers in the country. However, it is now easy for people with the disease to get a dinner fix at Ed’s Easy Diner branches across the UK (Douglas-Home, Kessler, & Gollin 2004). In offering gluten-free fries and buns, Ed’s Easy Diner has made it easy for people with coeliac disease not to miss out on their favorite delicacies. The restaurant has also made it possible for other people with allergies to dine at the restaurants. The reason behind this is the fact that Ed’s Easy Diner has carried out a study on the items they sell to their clients, which has helped in removing all the major allergies. The restaurant provides the consumers with information on every item, which means that customers can choose the type of food they want to eat without fearing the consequences (Time Out Magazine Ltd 2005). McDonalds has also done a great job in meeting the needs of the customers. In the current generation, most people spend most of their time browsing on the internet. As a result, the management has seen the importance of providing their customers with free WIFI. All the McDonald restaurants across Britain provides the consumers a complimentary WIFI to their meals, which makes it easy for the customers to check email, work, and connect with their friends (Slack, Chambers, & Johnston 2007). The provision of free WIFI at the restaurants has made the joints popular to all people, including students, young adults, and grown-ups. The management has also realized the importance of fast services to the customers, which has made it use an Arch Card pre-paid card, which means that the customers can make quick and convenient payments at the restaurants. Most people have enjoyed using the Arch Cards because they do not expire and because there are no dormancy fees or penalty. Improving the services at both McDonalds and Ed’s Easy Diner Despite the fact that both McDonalds and Ed’s Easy Diner have made tremendous efforts in meeting the customer requirements by providing quality services, few things can be done to improve the performances of the two restaurants. For example, one way that McDonald can improve its services is through product planning, which means that the company should introduce new products (Ninemeier, & Hayes 2006). In introducing new products, the company will provide the customers with a new taste, and help in shaping the future of the company. Adding new products to the menu will accumulate the choices and needs of the customers that are constantly changing. For example, since most customers like healthy food, the restaurant can increase the amount of healthier foods in the menu. On the other hand, Ed’s Easy Diner can improve its services through process planning, which can help the company maintain the quality and improve the speed of food preparation and serving in the restaurant. Process planning is the systematic method that a company uses to manufacture a product competitively and economically (Baraban & Durocher 2010). In case of Ed’s Easy Diner, the company should develop and establish a good process of preparing and cooking the food items, which can help the company improve its speed in providing services to the customers without compromising on the quality. REFERENCES LIST Baraban, R. S., & Durocher, J. F. (2010). Successful restaurant design. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley & Sons. Douglas-Home, S., Kessler, S., & Gollin, R. (2004). Zagat survey. 2005 London restaurants. New York, ZagatSurvey. Katz, J. B. (1997). Restaurant planning, design, and construction: a survival manual for owners, operators, and developers. New York, John Wiley. McDonald, M. (2007). Malcolm McDonald on marketing planning: understanding marketing plans and strategy. London, Kogan Page. Ninemeier, J. D., & Hayes, D. K. (2006). Restaurant operations management: principles and practices. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Pearson Prentice Hall. Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast food nation: the dark side of the all-American meal. Boston, Houghton Mifflin. Slack, N., Chambers, S., & Johnston, R. (2007). Operations management. Harlow, FT Prentice Hall. Time Out Magazine Ltd. (2005). Time Out cheap eats in London. London, Time Out. Read More