Process Selection

a) What type of product flow do they use?

Pathmark is a batch flow because they have a large variety of food that fills specific customer orders. Pathmark is a "path" for easy, one-stop shopping, and be the "mark" of one of the most successful supermarket retailers in the United States. Pathmark uses a batch flow because they have a large variety of food that fills specific customer orders. Due to the variety that Pathmark offers they are not specialized in the production of just one product but many products. Pathmark uses general-purpose equipment that allows it to be flexible in its production and continue offering variety. Pathmark has to keep itself constantly prepared and aware of the future. Products are always changing and so are customer needs so it is dire that Pathmark’s equipment is flexible enough to offer and satisfy the needs for those changes. Pathmark is fully capable of handling both the small and large volumes that orders could be placed for. Pathmark has a history of satisfying customers and providing on time service and keeping stores well stocked to fit customer needs. Pathmark is a “path” for easy, one-stop shopping, and be the “mark” of one of the most successful supermarket retailers in the United States.

b) What type of customer order do they process?

The process characteristic matrix that Pathmark uses is the batch and job shop and it falls into the Make-to-stock matrix. Pathmark uses a MTS (Make to Stock) process because it provides faster service for customers from available stock and lower costs.

c) Which cell do they fall into in the process characteristics matrix?

Pathmark falls in the batch and job shop section. This group contains the order type, flow of product, product variety, market type, and volume. Pathmark has a larger batch and it has a larger variety of foods that fill specific customer needs. The market type would be custom and the volume is medium.

d) What are some of the factors influencing their process selection?

Some of the factors influencing their process selection are market conditions, capital requirements, labor, and technology. Due to these factors Pathmark has united with Unicur Inc., a leading provider of Total Work force Acquisition solutions, who seek the highest quality employees that best fit a business, by using many methods to make sure that they select the best employees as well as managers across job roles throughout the corporation and continually measure the improvements. With Unicur Inc., Pathmark plans to enhance operations and pursue growth opportunities by lowering operations cost, focus on customer service, and optimizing processes & productivity. To achieve these goals Pathmark is concentrating "hiring more quickly and efficiently candidates, that best delivers quality and service, and reducing turnover."

In addition, since Pathmark is now owned by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc. (A&P) the new owners are looking to introduce "freshly cut vegetables and fruits to Pathmark produce sections; following the integration of systems, such as payroll and logistics, at the two grocery chains."

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e) Can they adopt any of the mass customization methods discussed?

Pathmark can't adopt any of the mass customization methods discussed because it was mentioned before, Pathmark has a Make-to-Stock (MTS) process where products are not identified for any particular customer, but for the target market. The products are standardized to some point by the producer not the customer, because the orders are forecasted before hand and then produced and carried in inventory to fulfill the customer's demands. "The production cycle is being operated to replenish stock."

PathMark company Information

Pathmark’s number one goal is to provide its customers with easy one –stop shopping while maintaining a high level of professionalism. At Pathmark customer service is the number one priority and each customer’s needs are treated with the utmost care. Pathmark has products and services to fit the requests of every customer. With the additions of a bakery, deli, and seafood center Pathmark is constantly improving and maintaining its continued success as one of the number one supermarket retailers in the Northeast. Pathmark is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Pathmark has also begun to utilize self serve registers to provide its customer base with the highest level of express check outs. Employees are required to wear collared shirts to maintain company image and give customers the comfort and reassurance that they will be handled in a professional manner. Weekly circulars are distributed in local newspapers and upon entrance into any Pathmark store to update customers on weekly sales. If a customer is looking for a particular item and it is out of stock, Pathmark promises to supply that customer with the product at a later time for the same price, and reassures their promise with a written rain check. Monthly evaluations are provided by the company to ensure that employees are giving customers the best possible service. Training is provided constantly to allow employees to stay familiarized with company standards and to update them on any changes or additions to the company. Inventory is checked regularly and shelves are restocked once a week to ensure that all customer needs are met. Pathmark also works with many charitable organizations raising money for many different causes such as breast cancer, and toys for tots. Pathmark is and will continue to be one of the most successful supermarket chains in the country, and we hope customers will always remember it is their number one “path" for easy shopping.