The Enhanced Productivity Program.

Abstract

The Enhanced Productivity Program is based on an organizational audit of a dietary department by a foodservice consultant. The objective of the program was to enhance department productivity by increasing personnel efficiency through work simplification and work organization principles while maintaining quality standards. The Enhanced Productivity Program comprises 13 subsystems that interact to affect overall productivity of the department. The program was structured by a task-oriented program schedule that identified tasks to be carried out in each subsystem. A system diagram detailed time frames and milestones guiding each task to completion. A comprehensive work plan was developed for each task. Time and motion studies carried out before and after implementation of program changes demonstrate a savings of 9.27 labor hours per day. Trayline speed increased from 1.7 trays to 3 trays per minute. Improved personnel efficiency allowed an 11% growth in meal volume in 6 months, thus improving departmental productivity.