Ergonomic Evaluation in a Beverage and Food Service Application

A global beverage and food company contracted the authors to evaluate the current store design to enhance speed of service and minimize the potential for employee injury. This assessment involved observations, interviews, physical measurements and link analyses at three high-volume locations in Southern California and three international stores in Singapore and Malaysia. The study examines two frequently performed tasks (preparation of café latte and mocha ice blended beverages). While the design was deemed to be adequate for the tasks performed, the analysis identified six areas for improvement. Further, the analysis included macroergonomic considerations for management control and organizational culture.