How do customers judge the quality of supermarket?

            Any product, either be good or services that satisfies end users is quality. Wegmans Food Markets, premier grocery chains in US, operating over 70 stores, are successful in providing quality as well as good service to their customers only because of proper market research and customer's feedback. Moreover the sales of the Wegmans Food Markets are higher than the industry (Stevenson, 2012).

            Customers judge the quality of supermarket (Wegmans Food Markets) in the following mentioned ways:

1.        Large selection of choices. If customers can find everything they want under one roof.
2.       Systematic way to placing products the supermarket offers. For example, a shelf of biscuits in one place whereas the shelf of edible oil in the other.
3.      Timely/ scheduled checking of products whether they are okay or not, and if any issues found, reporting to the managers.
4.       Maintained counter for payment of bills. Customers find no lines or queues to pay the bills.
5.       Higher quality products in comparatively low price than any other supermarkets.
6.       The neat and tidiness of the supermarket too adds quality of it.
7.      Timely/ scheduled checking of products whether they are okay or not, and if any issues found, reporting to the managers (Stevenson, 2012).

Indicate how and why each of these factors is important to the successful operation of a supermarket:

      a. Customer Satisfaction

Any business firm that is successful is because of its customer satisfaction. The satisfied customer visits the supermarket time and again and so does irregular customers who eventually become regular customer because of the satisfaction with the supermarket. The satisfaction could either be because of suitability, or quality of the service they offer or the planned and mannered structure of the supermarket. The time and visit of customer helps in gaining more of revenues to the supermarket which makes the supermarket successful.

      b. Forecasting

Indeed, forecasting helps in the successful operation of a supermarket. Analyzing the current scenario and customers demand, a manager can act according and have great impact on the profitability of the supermarket.

For example, in the season of FIFA World Cup, a manager can predict that the demand of large number of jersey will exist. And the manager accordingly can act so as to increase profitability/ successful operation of a supermarket.

      c. Capacity planning

The proper capacity planning helps for the successful operation of the supermarket. The process required to set products in the supermarket and the capacity available to have these products in the supermarket have direct impact on successful operation of the supermarket. More spaces in the supermarket with wide range of choices of products available to the customers helps is yielding high return to the supermarket.

      d. Location

Supermarket location influence visiting supermarket frequency of the customers. The more near and at appropriate the supermarket lies, the more customers visit the supermarket which is another important factor for the successful operation of the supermarket. Moreover the questions like where should the facility should be put or on what criteria should the location of the supermarket base should be address by the operation managers.

      e. Inventory Management

Inventory required for the supermarkets should be maintained in timely order so as to meet the day to day operation and create successive operation of the supermarket. The planning of materials requirements must be made for the efficiency in operation of the supermarket as well.

      f. Layout of the Store

The layout of the supermarket also plays important role in the successful operation of the supermarket. The proper arrangement of physical assets and determining how large the facility is required by the operation managers helps in actual and efficient operation of the supermarket. This too leads in the convenience for the supermarket as well as customers.

      g. Scheduling

Scheduling the number of work force required in the supermarket, when are they required, how long they should be kept etc also helps in the successful operation of the supermarket. It is because scheduling is directly related to the out flow of finance with the supermarket. Proper scheduling helps reducing the costs and hence in the profitability of the supermarket.

What are some of the ways Wegmans uses technology to gain an edge over its competition?

One of the top grocery operating in the US market, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., employing over 37,000 people and very successful in maintaining customer satisfaction, resulting the sales of over  $3 billion is very successful in its operation (Stevenson, 2012).

It is possible because of the Wegmans uses of the technology continuously to gain edge over its competition. Wegmans use the technologies in order to determine the level of inventory required as well to manage the supply change in the firm. Moreover, the use of technology is in maintaining the freshness of the meat too. Also, the technologies are used to determine if any departments are to be added in the firm (Stevenson, 2012).

Bibliography

Chase, R. B., Jacbos, F. R., Aquilano, N. J., & Agrawal, N. K. (2008). Operations management for competitive management (11th ed.). New York: Tata McGraw-Hill.

Stevenson, W. J. (2012). Operations Management (11th ed.). New York: Tata McGraw-Hill Irwin.