Total quality management in operations

TQM

Layouts

Although all are fast food establishments, the designed layouts at McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Burger King vary slightly but significantly. Of all the establishments, McDonald's is the most image-conscious and intent upon marketing to children. Thus many McDonald's tend to be physically larger than the aforementioned other establishments. McDonald's caters more to fast food dining at the establishment, and containing such ambient elements as playgrounds and cushioned seating areas. Food establishments that cater more to quick dining and try to require less personnel in their design to keep costs down, such as traditional roadside eateries like Roy Rogers tend to allow customers to serve themselves, although chains such as Wendy's have, to a rather dramatic effect, deployed the use of 'fixings' or salad bars as ways of stressing the homey nature of the enterprise. In contrast, Taco Bell tends to emphasize the inexpensive nature of its offerings and to be less family friendly, thus the layout or seating at such establishments is often 'upfront' and not separate from the cash register, encouraging a fast traffic in and out of the establishment. (Retail Elements, 2003)

Question 2: Process Control Charts

The different requirements of different types of fast food chains become even more evident, however, when comparing different processes evident at local fast food restaurant, retail store, and banks. The ultimate aim, even in 'family based' establishments, when purveying fast food, is to get customers in and out of the establishment as quickly as possible. In contrast, retail stores attempt to keep customers in the establishment for as long a period of a time to look over merchandise. Thus, while fast food chains display their objects in the most obvious and direct way, retail chains lure customers in with advertised good and attractive buys, but often locate such buys to the rear of the store, to entice consumers further in. Banks may also advertise good rates, but rely upon speed to expedite customer interactions. Thus the value process chain analysis for a fast food chain would emphasize pedestrian traffic, for a retail chain, the amount of time spent looking at goods, and for a bank, the amount of time each teller spent with a customer, and the speed in which the teller redirected the consumer to the necessary channels. (Control Charts, 2004)

Question 3: TQM