Operations analytics, looking at your establishment from a different perspective.

Many innovative companies use lean operating principles on a daily basis. At Hillstone Restaurant Group, operators of Houston’s Restaurants, every move, abbreviations, and kitchen pickup time is scrutinized under a microscope. They manage to have 3-minute pickup times for appetizers, and 8-minute pickups for entrees, without precooking anything. They accomplish this by embracing the concept of lean production.

Hillstone has a spec way of doing almost everything. They require all prospective employees to pass an extensive exam, to ensure they are smart enough to learn their systems. All abbreviations are made to ensure the quickest execution of orders (for instance, a side of sour cream is a side of c, so as to not waste valuable syllables). In turn they have created an almost unstoppable brand with some of the best service in the industry.

Iggy’s Restaurant in Singapore, utilizes lean production techniques and a prixe fix menu to keep costs low while giving impeccable service. Every step of kitchen and service operations are carefully measured in terms of value creation for their customers.

What other analysis can an operator take to his or her establishment? Analytics go deeper than just analyzing operational procedures. You can keep an eye on your barstaff by utilizing cash to total sales ratios, and if over a period of time patterns in that data will begin to arise. Any inventory management system can be scrutinized for better control. The key is to analyze a system or process from start to finish, and find ways to eliminate wasted movements.

All organizations continually evolve, start working on your business, not just in your business.