Ergonomics and Facilities Planning

Ergonomics and Facilities Planning

• Ergonomics is the study of how people interact with their work environment to optimize comfort, safety, and performance.
• Facilities planning is the process of designing and organizing physical spaces to meet specific needs and objectives.
• Combining these principles creates a welcoming and efficient environment, enhancing guest experience and improving employee satisfaction/productivity.

Key Considerations in Ergonomics and Facilities Planning

• Workstation design is creating a safe and efficient workspace, minimizing injuries and enhancing productivity.
• Task analysis involves analyzing employee tasks, considering frequency, duration, and physical exertion.
• Equipment and tools should be comfortable and easy to use.
• Adequate lighting can help reduce eye strain and prevent accidents.
• The work environment should be comfortable, safe, well-ventilated, and temperature/humidity controlled.
• Workstation design must consider employee posture and movement, with comfortable and supportive chairs.
• Work surfaces should be at a comfortable height with adequate space.
• Lighting design can impact comfort and productivity; color, intensity, and type should be well considered.
• Dimmable lighting helps transition from day to night, feature pendant lighting can create drama and add interest, and concealed LEDs can highlight features.
• Accessibility considers the needs of guests with disabilities, including accessible rooms/common areas, ramps, and elevators.
• Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 requires buildings, public utilities, and establishments (including hotels/restaurants) to comply with accessibility standards.

Safety in the Hospitality Industry

• Safety involves protecting employees from work-related illness and injury through environmental, safety, and health policies.
• Facilities planning should prioritize safety with non-slip flooring, fire safety systems, and emergency exits.
• It's important to place fire extinguishers strategically, provide first aid kits, and conduct earthquake drills.

Importance of Ergonomics Facilities Planning

• Reduces the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders by providing proper equipment and tools.
• Enhances the guest experience by ensuring employees are not distracted by discomfort or pain.
• Minimizes absenteeism as employees are more likely to work and be productive if healthy and comfortable.
• Boosts employee morale because providing ergonomic facilities shows care for employee well-being and increases job satisfaction.
• Improves productivity as comfortable and safe employees are more likely to perform duties efficiently.
• Ergonomic facilities include adjustable chairs/tables, anti-fatigue mats, ergonomic keyboards, and lifting equipment.
• It is essential for hospitality employers to assess/evaluate workstations and provide suitable ergonomic facilities.

Different Hospitality and Tourism Facilities

• Hotels provide lodging, meals, and other guest services, with facilities like spas, pool sidebar, and parking.
• Restaurants offer food and beverage, with dining, kitchen, and cashier areas, plus waiter stations and employee areas.
• Airports are places from which aircraft operate, with runways and maintenance; facilities include runway lighting and de-icing areas.
• Travel agencies provide travel and tourism-related services, including travel management, passenger assistance, consulting, marketing, and leisure services.

Generating Ideas in the Hospitality Industry

• Stay updated with street trends by attending conferences/trade shows and reading industry publications.
• Conduct market research to determine the viability of a new service or product through research.
• Understanding the needs and preferences of the target can help to identify areas of improvement and innovation.
• Surveys, focus groups, and online reviews can be used to gather feedback from customers.
• Embrace innovation, including creating and implementing new methods, services, or operations.
• Professor Siddhart Varma (2018) defines innovation as a "new idea, device or method."
• Collaborate with your team to brainstorm and talk about new ideas and solutions.
• Identify gaps in the market to fill with a new product/service or an improvement on an existing offering.
• Experiment with new technologies to find innovative solutions to common challenges.
• Consider sustainability by incorporating eco-friendly initiatives, which can be a unique selling point.
• Create a partnership by collaborating with other businesses or organizations to generate new opportunities and ideas.
• Take inspiration from other industries like retail, entertainment, or healthcare.
• Encourage customer feedback through suggestion boxes or online forums to identify areas for improvement.

Hospitality Business Ideas

• Boutique hotels are small, stylish hotels with unique rooms and personalized service in trendy neighborhoods.
• Bed and breakfasts are lodging options providing homemade breakfast and personalized service for a more intimate experience.
• Event planning and catering involve planning and executing events like corporate functions, weddings, and social gatherings.
• Vacation rental management is managing and marketing vacation properties on behalf of owners, including marketing, bookings, cleaning, and maintenance.
• Wine bars specialize in wine, providing a variety of high-quality wines from different regions along with small plates.
• Spa and wellness centers offer spot treatments like massage, facial, and body treatment, as well as wellness services such as yoga and meditation.
• Eco-tourism provides eco-friendly tours that promote sustainable practices and environmental conservation.

Food Service Concepts

• Coffee shops are establishments specializing in artisanal coffee with a unique ambience for customers to relax/socialize.
• Food truck restaurants offer an ergonomic facility, providing the flexibility of moving to different locations and serving different clients.
• Food Garage Businesses combine film and food with casual dining in a renovated theater.
• Samgyupsal restaurants are Korean barbecue restaurants, popular for their Grill-All-You-Can.
• American casual restaurants offer homemade taste and appearance with contemporary convenience.

Lodging Concepts

• Sheraton Manila Hotel offers a Bubble Pod Dining Experience with bubble pods, allowing dining inside a protected bubble.
• Resort Casino Hotels offer Dinner in the Sky, a unique aerial dining experience on a table raised 160-180 ft in the air.
• H20 Hotels are upscale hotels offering an experience of sleeping with the fishes through aquarium hotel rooms.

5 M's of Concept Development

• Market: Market studies are essential before constructing a food facility.
• Menu: Menus have a tremendous influence on the design and success of a food operation.
• Money: Successful food facility capitalization includes funds for planning, construction, and equipment.
• Management: The quality of the management of the foodservice operation is vital, with clear operational policies.
• Method of Execution: Operational matters, such as production methods and control systems, must be decided in the concept phase.

Market Feasibility Study

• A market feasibility study attempts to project the sales level for the operation before investors commit funds.
• Sales revenue is a function of the number of customers and the price they pay.
• Market feasibility studies estimate how many customers there will be and how much each customer will spend.
• Studies can test established concepts or develop new ones, with demographics and economic factors considered.

Demographic and Economic Factors

• Demographic data includes population details like age, income, gender, and occupation, which help predict restaurant behavior.
• Economic factors involve the prevailing economic climate, with disposable income affecting the restaurant industry.

Traffic Counts and Demand Generators

• Restaurants are typically developed along major thoroughfares, using traffic counts to determine optimal sites.
• Demand generators are destinations that draw extensive traffic, benefiting nearby restaurants.

Competitive Analysis and Sales Projections

• Competitive analysis involves identifying similar concepts, comparing menus/prices, and counting customers.
• Sales projections rely on gathering data about demographics, economic factors, traffic patterns, demand generators, and competitive analysis.

Obtaining Approvals from Agencies

• Approval processes for new/renovated foodservice facilities are complex and involve agencies like the zoning board and health department.