Select a business or any store (Walmart, Winners, Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaw, Fresh co, No frills, Home Depot, Home Sense, Canadian tire, Sobeys, Staples, Metro, Sears, Future Shop, Costco, Farmboy, Independent, Foodland, Shoppers Drug Mart, Home outfitter, JYSK, Target, …).

1. Prepare a brief history of the business with some useful information which you can find on the internet or asking from the managers
2. Observe how that business is laid out, and draw a diagram of the facility’s layout. (please see the sample on page 2)
3. Identify areas of the store that have the characteristics of each of these processing types: job shop, batch, repetitive (assembly line), and continuous (Flowline).
4. Describe and check the width of the isles to see if they have enough space for customers to navigate two or more carts freely (if applicable).
5. Describe and check each section for clear signs and customer directions?
6. Check to ensure products are accessible by putting them on shelves within reach. ( Putting items out of reach may discourage customers from purchasing them.)
7. Describe if the layout echoes the company’s message and highlights its key products.
8. Do they lock their highest-priced, most valuable items in a glass cabinet or case to control access, and keep the keys in a safe, secure place?
9. Do they consistently hit the bull’s eye with consumers by offering theirs chic yet cheap merchandise is reliable, easy-to-navigate stores? How?
10. Refer to the 7 wastes in JIT, check if their process has any kind of waste(s), and describe how they can eliminate them.
11. Do they use 5S in their system, how?
12. Describe your opinion about the advantages and disadvantages of the process & layout in the store. How they can improve them.
13. Features of your Presentation ( Demo, Color, Pictures, Sequence, ….)

Here are some samples of a store layout:

Dairy ----- - Meat Service Meat & Seafood Deli Produce Checkouts Floral Wine & Spirits Restrooms Customer Service 88 88 Bulk Foods Salad Bar Smoothie Bar Bakery Frozen Greeting Cards Health & Beauty Beer. Health & Beauty Drive-Up Pharmacy