Operations are an important aspect to any business. Operations oversee the making, transformation and delivery of a product or service. Within operations there are several key principles which contribute to maximizing profit through efficiency. A process is a principle which represents the set of actions taken from the initial through to the final stages.

Starbucks is an example of a successful corporation who has recognized the importance of efficient processes and implemented changes in the structure of their procedures. Since 2008, Starbucks has strategically improved productivity growth and rates of customer transactions per hour. Through training employees and assigning specific roles to each barista on the floor, Starbucks has created an environment of efficiency and ease.

Through my own personal experience as a barista at Starbucks, I learned many of the procedures it takes to run a Starbucks store proficiently. There are particular sequences and steps in which drinks should be made which follow the guidelines of steaming milk, cuing shots, pumping syrup, finishing and finally connecting with the customer. Furthermore, Barista’s are assigned to different tasks throughout a shift in order to be both effective and efficient.

References:

http://qz.com/149995/starbucks-is-now-selling-46-more-things-an-hour-than-it-was-five-years-ago/

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_33/b4143028813542.htm

http://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_62cbc9ad-ac19-54a0-a0e6-73035ad4468b.html