Cost Optimization and Visibility Tool for Multi-Site Restaurant Operations
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OVERVIEW
As part of my role at a Hawaiian restaurant brand, I was assigned the project of creating a comprehensive system to track our food costs. With four locations and plans for expansion, improving our cost management was crucial for the business.
recipe cost breakdown of ready to serve items
OBJECTIVES
Establish a remote-friendly method for tracking food costs.
Design a flexible template that could be easily updated quarterly.
Provide our leadership team with reliable data for informed decision-making on pricing, recipes, and growth strategies.
CHALLENGES
Remote collaboration with store managers to measure accurate recipe portions and yields.
Maintaining up-to-date records as some food prices fluctuated frequently.
APPROACH
Created a template that incorporated flexibility mechanisms to accommodate periodic price updates.
Worked with store managers to accurately measure and record recipe portions and yields.
OUTCOME
Created a system that showed us exactly how much each serving was costing us.
Built a process for updating our cost info every few months, so we could keep up with changing food prices.
recipe cost breakdown for cooked/prepped items
WHAT I LEARNED
This project was a significant learning experience for me, both in terms of technical skills and project management. Some key takeaways include:
The importance of clear communication when working remotely, especially when coordinating with multiple team members across different locations.
How to break down a complex project into manageable tasks and create a realistic timeline for completion.
The value of flexibility and adaptability when dealing with changing business conditions and evolving project requirements.
Interestingly, I undertook this project without any formal project management training. After my employment with my previous company, I went on to earn my Google Project Management Professional Certificate. This experience made me realize how valuable structured project management knowledge could have been:
The certificate program introduced me to systematized approaches and tools that could have streamlined my workflow and potentially helped me complete the project more efficiently.
Formal training in project scheduling and resource allocation could have helped me set more realistic timelines and possibly complete the project earlier.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
While I'm proud of the progress made on this project, I have to admit I felt a sense of disappointment when declining business conditions prevented its full implementation. This project could've helped turn things around for the company.
It's worth noting that this project was just one of many responsibilities I juggled during my time there. In addition to developing this cost management tool, I was also involved in hiring processes, managing customer service, and handling various other day-to-day operations and admin tasks. This balancing act made the progress on the COGS project all the more meaningful to me.
Despite not seeing it through to full implementation, the experience gained from this project has been invaluable. It reinforced my ability to manage complex projects while handling multiple responsibilities, a skill that I believe will serve me well in future roles. While I wish circumstances had allowed for the project's completion, I'm grateful for the learning opportunity and the chance to create something with real potential to impact the business positively.
Feel free to check out my other competencies:
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