Improving efficiency should always be a business goal!

Most any business has some inefficiency built into its day to day operation. Some run much better than others depending on staffing requirements, the work environment and skill levels needed. I find restaurants are a good model to look at as they offer a full menu of areas than can be improved (excuse the pun).

For this post, I decided to take a look at a situation similar to the one I've drawn below:

In the schematic you have a bar area with dining tables on two sides. (You can assume that the kitchen is located towards the back area). Please notice that there are two cash registers areas; one located by the entrance and a second over behind the bar. Typically, bar patrons pay at the bar register while diners amble over to the register located by the entrance after they've finished dining. Note that on any given day there will be on average two servers, a cook and a bartender/manager. Now, while everyone is pretty much cross trained at all the positions, it is typically the bartender who serves as the main cashier at both register locations. He or she is also responsible to make sure new arrivals are cordially greeted and seated after which a server takes over.

Next, let's take a look at some potential inefficiencies in this scenario. Note that the bartender is most likely to be found behind the bar as a typical starting point. Second, let's assume that on a typical day our theoretical establishment will ring up about 100 tickets. (This would imply that the four employees present, during any one shift, are all kept pretty busy). Third, let's make an assumption that of the 100 tickets rung up each day, 60 are at the entrance register and 40 are at the bar. All things being equal, one could then reasonably extrapolate that the bartender will make quite a few trips to the entrance register during the course of a normal business day. Next, for the purpose of argument, let's estimate those trips to be about 30 per day. Furthermore, that each trip would require the employee to navigate from position X over to the entrance register/greeting area. (Now, while that person can take one of two possible routes, let's average it out and say that the distance covered is about 40 feet for one round trip). Summarizing, forty trips at forty feet per would equal ~1600 feet traversed each day. That figure can then be used to estimate that the distance walked would be roughly 11,200 feet per week which would come to something like 548,200 feet a year

(that's just about 110 miles)! Now, assuming that the person(s) walked at 2 mph, the time spent going back and forth would come to 55 hours of time per year. Wow!

OK, now let's change a couple of small things:

 

Note that; 1) an access way has be inserted in the main bar and 2) the entrance register has also been moved to that general location. Additionally, the old register booth was now being used for merchandise which makes that square footage a cash producer (potentially)! The bartender/manager now only needs to walk a few feet, in either direction to service either the bar customers or the diners. This series of changes will result in three positive changes for the owner;

1. A significant number of man hours could  be saved each year
2. Patrons coming in to the establishment could be greeted a minute, or so, faster
3. Square footage was freed up for new income potential

What's really happened her? A quantifiable increase in efficiency at little infrastructural cost.

Mobile 1 Station in Forsyth MO under new ownership!

On the occasion of getting my oil changed in my vehicle, I was surprised to find that the Mobile 1 service facility located at 194 Coy Blvd., in Forsyth Missouri, was under new ownership when I drove over there to set an appointment! I had a chance to talk briefly with Dennis Renteria, the new owner, who seemed intelligent and nice. I made an appointment the next day at 8AM for an oil change and inspection. The next day, I arrived and was taken care of promptly and professionally. And, while I'm not clear on what happen with the previous ownership, this new guy seems to be OK. 

The facility was clean, equipped with bathrooms and the mechanic, Mike, who serviced my car told me that he had worked briefly under the old management, had quit and then come back to work for Dennis and was very happy with the way he ran things. Time will tell on well this service location is accepted by the community.

I included the business card for the information it has on it, but neglected to find out their business hours. I would guess you can call them to find that out. This facility is a full auto service and repair location for most any auto related problem you might have!

Texas Hold'Em Poker Tournament!

This looks to be a lot of fun and it helps to benefit our High School Grads!

Blue Grass & Gospel Concert April 11th!

Popular local bands such as The Big Creek Bluegrass band, Bob Hammons and Wildwood along with The Haining Family will be performing live at Shadowrock Park near Forsyth MO on April the 11th! The scheduled times are from Noon to 8PM, the cost is $10 and I'm sure there will be a food vendor or two present. So, bring a lawn chair and sit a spell!

Area infrastructure ailing or failing?

Forsyth MO - Crews were out, once again to repair a water main that has repeatedly broken in recent years with crews from the local Water Department coming out to patch as best they can. This raised a question, in my mind, as to how well small communities are maintaining basic service infrastructure in what many call a poor economy?

Public swimming pool in Forsyth Mo?

A public swimming pool located in Forsyth Missouri is a novel idea. I understand that it has even been proposed in the past, but I've never heard of it going anywhere. That's sad, because I think it would be a great thing for the city to have over the long term.

Over the years in cities and town all across America, public pools have served as informal meeting places for women, especially those with kinds. It gives the children something to do, during the hot summer months, that is both very healthy for the young (physically) and therapeutic for the older adults who generally may not get enough exercise due to sore joints! Properly run and maintained by the city, a public pool can be profit producer for the city's coffers.Oh, and did you know that sunbathing is back in?

I feel that this is an issue that should be brought up again by the City of Forsyth!

Sluggish economy noticeable in small towns!

River Run Park, Forsyth MO

Forsyth MO. – As the country continue to grind along at a snails pace, the effects are beginning to be plainly seen even in the small town of Forsyth Missouri where I currently reside. Most notable was the relatively bare parks near where I live. Both Shadowrock and River Run are normally pretty full by this time of year, but as you can see that were rather empty in the mid week shot. I also noticed

Prime Time, Forsyth MO

that area restaurants seemed to be less busy than I remember them being last year, but that could be my imagination. What isn't my imagination, was the report in the local newspaper that tax receipts were down quite a bit for the month compared to years past. Fuel costs, (due in part to the problems in the Middle East) were also on the rise and could spike past the $6 a gallon mark if things go really sideways internationally.

So, things have been very quite early this summer of 2014. I haven't heard even one firecracker go off in my subdivision, and that concerns me more than anything else!