Efficiency metric system for a quick-service restaurant

• US 7,177,824 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sabongi, Gebran J., Hall, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/128,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 705/10, 705/11, 705/13, 705/15, 705/16, 705/17, 705/18, 705/21, 702/182
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A system for automatically gathering efficiency metrics in a quick-service establishment that makes use of certain data signals already generated in a great number of such establishments. A repeating communication device, which is used to receive and re-broadcast communications amongst the employees of the quick service restaurant, acts as a central hub that receives various data signals. The data signals may be analyzed, and the information hidden therein may be unearthed. The information may be transmitted to a remote computer system for further analysis, which may receive similar data from similar quick-service establishments.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing efficiency of a drive-through lane of a quick-service restaurant, the method comprising:

collecting efficiency data, wherein efficiency data includes data regarding an efficiency metric with respect to service of an occupant in a car in the drive-through lane of the quick-service restaurant and wherein the efficiency metric includes data measuring the number of talk operations of two-way radios worn by employees in the quick service restaurant;

transmitting the efficiency data to a computer located remotely from the quick-service restaurant;

receiving an analysis of the efficiency data from the computer, wherein the analysis includes a comparison of the efficiency data of the quick-service restaurant with efficiency data from other quick-service restaurants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the amount of time spent by the car at a menu sign along the drive-through lane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the amount of time between arrival of the car at a menu sign along the drive-through lane and a greeting being delivered to a passenger within the car.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the total number of cars served in a given span of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the amount of time between the car leaving a menu sign along the drive-through lane and arriving at a pick-up window along the drive-through lane.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the amount of time spent by the car at a pick-up window along the drive-through lane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the amount of time between arriving at a menu sign along the drive-through lane and delivery of an order to the car.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises measuring the amount of time during which a pick-up window along the drive-through lane is vacant, while a car occupies a position along some other portion of the drive-through lane.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received analysis includes a median value for the efficiency metric, wherein data for the efficiency metric collected from a plurality of quick-service restaurants.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the received analysis includes a mean value for the efficiency metric, wherein for the efficiency metric data collected from a plurality of quick-service restaurants.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the received analysis includes a percentile value for the quick-service restaurant with respect to the efficiency metric, wherein the percentile value represents the quick-service restaurant'"'"'s relative ranking among the plurality of quick-service restaurants with respect to the particular efficiency metric.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the received analysis includes a history of the efficiency metric for the quick-service restaurant, the history extending backwards into time at least one year.

13. A method of analyzing efficiency of a drive-through lane of a quick-service restaurant, the method comprising:

collecting efficiency data, wherein efficiency data includes data regarding an efficiency metric with respect to service of an occupant in a car in the drive-through lane of a quick-service restaurant, wherein the step of collecting data is measuring the number of times an employee of the restaurant speaks with an occupant of the car in the drive-through lane, while the car is at a menu sign along the drive-through lane;

transmitting the efficiency data to a computer located remotely from the quick-service restaurant;

receiving an analysis of the efficiency data from the computer, wherein the analysis includes a comparison of the efficiency data of the quick-service restaurant with efficiency data from other quick-service restaurants.

14. A method of analyzing efficiency of a drive-through lane of a quick-service restaurant, the method comprising:

collecting efficiency data, wherein efficiency data includes data regarding an efficiency metric with respect to service of an occupant in a car in the drive-through lane of a quick-service restaurant, wherein the step of collecting data is measuring the number of times employees of the restaurant speak with each other via a radio network, between a time the car arrives at a menu sign and a time the car departs from a pick-up window;

transmitting the efficiency data to a computer located remotely from the quick-service restaurant;

receiving an analysis of the efficiency data from the computer, wherein the analysis includes a comparison of the efficiency data of the quick-service restaurant with efficiency data from other quick-service restaurants.