Abstract :
Summary form only given. The Kroger Co. is the largest grocery retailer in the United States, with store formats that include grocery and multi- department stores, convenience stores, fuel centers, pharmacies, floral, and jewelry stores. Kroger and Visual8 Corp. have created the Store Front simulator which is used in the design and analysis of store checkout configurations. This tool models regular, express and self-service checkout lanes, with staffing levels to handle different customer profiles and varying queuing behaviors by time of day. The simulator, which provides a drag-and-drop layout capability, can help determine cost- effective store front layouts and staffing plans to satisfy target customer service levels. This presentation will demonstrate how the Store Front simulator is being used to streamline staffing and re-design checkout operations in order to satisfy Kroger´s mandate to provide superior customer service levels within its industry.
