Process Design and Analysis

Mass Customization Trend at Quick-Service Restaurants

While Subway moves away from its 57-year mass customization approach for sandwiches, instead emphasizing its Signature Series sandwiches, many quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are adding mass customization.

Starbucks is one such example. Customer demand for customized cold coffee beverages now represents approximately 75% of the chain’s total beverage sales. Starbucks is rolling out a new system called Siren to meet the growing demand for cold customized beverages. This system reduces the time required to produce a customized drink. For […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2022-11-13T05:46:14+00:00November 13, 2022|Tags: mass customization, process design, product design, quick serve restaurants, restaurant, service blueprint, technology|

Fully-Autonomous Restaurant in San Francisco

Mezli, which just opened its first restaurant in August 2022, utilizes technology to bring healthy Mediterranean grain bowls to the market.

The initial restaurant is fully-autonomous and housed in a 20-foot shipping container. Their Mediterranean bowls are priced to be affordable, with the flagship bowls starting at $6.99. A Michelin-starred chef assisted with the creation of their menu.

The process begins each day at Mezli’s central kitchen with food preparation. Food is then delivered to the restaurant. Robots at the restaurant receive customer […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2022-09-25T23:56:43+00:00September 27, 2022|Tags: apps, automation, location, process design, processes, robotics, robots, technology|

Amazon Prescribes Bigger Investment in Healthcare

The acquisition of One Medical for $3.9 billion by Amazon signaled the intent of the e-commerce giant to compete in the healthcare industry, in particular, the telehealth sector.

Amazon has grown from operating as an online retailer to becoming a key player in entertainment, groceries, and pharmacy with the acquisition of MGM, Whole Foods, and PillPack respectively, in recent years.

Video Spotlight:

Amazon to buy One Medical in healthcare push (July 21, 2022, Reuters)
Amazon […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2022-09-05T19:50:24+00:00September 6, 2022|Tags: competitiveness, ecommerce, innovation, technology|

Is Amazon Pushing Its Warehouse Workers Too Hard?

Fast delivery can be taxing for Amazon workers.

The Feds are investigating possible safety issues and failure to disclose injuries at Amazon. Their findings could spell legal trouble for the company. One of the safety hazards allegedly involves an unrealistic pace of work, which resulted in physical injuries. Work pace is often tied to performance standards. Is Amazon guilty of setting an unrealistic work pace or is it unrealistic to assume that all employees can achieve the standards?

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2022-08-03T19:03:59+00:00August 6, 2022|Tags: competitivness, delivery, job design, lead time, productivity|