The Big Mac Store

The exterior of the McDonald's presents a familiar and inviting facade, characterized by its iconic golden arches. The exterior is surrounded by a spacious parking lot, often bustling with cars in the drive-thru lane and customers entering and exiting. Moving inside, the customer area is characterized by a vibrant and inviting atmosphere and red and yellow color scheme. The focal point is the ordering counter, where customers can place their orders, flanked by wall-mounted menu boards displaying the food and beverage options. The seating area, made up of a mix of standard tables, chairs, cozy booths, and high-top counters, accommodates various customer preferences. A self-service station with condiments, napkins, and a drink station adds convenience for customers.

Behind the scenes, the staff area is designed for efficiency in food preparation and storage. The kitchen is equipped with specialized stations, such as grills and fryers, where staff work collaboratively to assemble orders promptly. There are two table lanes for preparing food, both with heating shelves for food, coolers, and sandwich boxes. On the other side of the soda fountain sits a coffee, slushie, and a McFlurry machine. The back room contains a freezer, washing machines, a dishwasher, condiments, and a giant machine that delivers soda to the rest of the store.

Today the shift manager is Sarah, currently a senior in college pursuing her degree in digital forensics. She wears her McDonald's uniform comprised of a navy blue polo shirt, black jeans, and slip-resistant Skechers. All complemented by a pair of sleek rim-less glasses, black eyeshadow, and silver tips on her hair. Those who know her will describe her as sarcastic and cheerful. The staff loves her, but won't let her forget how they’re always short on nuggets whenever she’s on shift.

"Ensuring excellent customer service is a top priority for us. We conduct regular training sessions to emphasize the importance of a friendly and efficient customer experience. We train our team to greet customers with a smile, take accurate orders, and address any concerns promptly.” Sarah smiled and looked upwards toward the ceiling. “I remember a situation just last week where a customer received the wrong order. Being in charge I went to help and listened to their complaints. Only that this took place two days before.” She paused and laughed. “Since so much time had passed, I had to let her know that nothing could be done. She was dissatisfied but left peacefully after understanding."

We moved toward the kitchen. “Efficiency is at the core of our operations. We implement streamlined processes to ensure fast and accurate order fulfillment while maintaining quality. The kitchen staff follows a well-defined workflow, with each member responsible for a specific task.” She turned to signal a poster above the grill detailing the procedures for making quarter and regular meat. “Additionally, we use technology to track orders to monitor and improve our speed of service. This ensures that our customers receive their orders promptly without compromising on the quality of our products."