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Store Operations Management, Financial Metrics, Labor, and Safety

Food Service (SSW 2) · 外食業(2号) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

3 Characteristics of Food Service, QSCA Priority, and PDCA

Compared with manufacturing or retail, the food service industry has 3 main characteristics: 'location-based industry', 'labor-intensive industry', and 'simultaneity of production and consumption'.

Among the basic store indicators QSCA, 'Q (Quality of food and products)' is prioritized in the order of: (1) uniform product quality (recipe compliance), (2) proper temperature, and (3) serving quickly.

For continuous operational improvement, rotate the PDCA cycle in the order of Plan → Do → Check (evaluation/verification) → Action (improvement/corrective measure).

To maintain store labor productivity, the benchmark for monthly sales per regular full-time employee is at least 700,000 yen.

Key points


  • The 3 characteristics of food service: location-based, labor-intensive, and simultaneous production and consumption

  • Priority order of Q (Quality): 1st uniform quality (recipe compliance), 2nd proper temperature, 3rd speed of service

  • Rotate PDCA in the order Plan → Do → Check → Action; benchmark monthly sales per regular employee is ≥700,000 yen
WordMeaning
Location-based industry
Labor-intensive industry
Simultaneity (of production and consumption)
Recipe compliance

Cost of Sales & Cost Ratio Formulas and Variance (Loss) Control

On an income statement (P/L), Cost of Sales = Beginning Inventory + Purchases − Ending Inventory, and Gross Profit = Sales − Cost of Sales.

Cost Ratio (%) = Cost of Sales ÷ Sales × 100. For example, if monthly sales are 5,000,000 yen, beginning inventory is 300,000 yen, purchases are 1,400,000 yen, and ending inventory is 200,000 yen, Cost of Sales is 1,500,000 yen and Cost Ratio is 30.0%.

Similarly, if monthly sales are 8,000,000 yen, beginning inventory is 500,000 yen, purchases are 2,300,000 yen, and ending inventory is 400,000 yen, Cost of Sales is '50 + 230 − 40 = 240 (2.4M yen)' and Cost Ratio is '240 ÷ 800 × 100 = 30.0%'.

Main causes of variance (loss) between theoretical (standard) cost ratio and actual cost ratio are over-portioning, waste from cooking mistakes or expiration, and inventory counting errors.

Key points


  • Cost of Sales = Beginning Inventory + Purchases − Ending Inventory; Cost Ratio = Cost of Sales ÷ Sales × 100

  • Gross Profit = Sales − Cost of Sales (if the cost ratio is 30%, the gross profit margin is 70%)

  • Improve variance between theoretical and actual cost through recipe compliance (proper portioning) and accurate inventory control
WordMeaning
Cost of sales (food ingredient cost)
Gross profit
Standard cost ratio (theoretical cost ratio)
Over-portioning

Calculating FL Cost, Man-Hour Sales/Productivity, and Break-Even Point

FL Cost = Food Cost (F) + Labor Cost (L), and FL Ratio = (F + L) ÷ Sales × 100. For example, if monthly sales are 6M yen (or 10M yen) with a 30% cost ratio and target FL ratio ≤55%, the labor cost ratio must be kept ≤25% (≤1.5M / ≤2.5M yen).

Man-Hour Sales = Sales ÷ Total Working Hours; Man-Hour Productivity = Gross Profit ÷ Total Working Hours; Labor Distribution Ratio = Labor Cost ÷ Gross Profit × 100.

For example, if daily sales are 450,000 yen, gross profit is 315,000 yen, and total working hours are 90 hours, Man-Hour Sales = 450,000 ÷ 90 = 5,000 yen and Man-Hour Productivity = 3,500 yen (for 7M yen monthly gross profit ÷ 1,400 hours, productivity is 5,000 yen).

Break-Even Sales (where operating profit is zero) = Fixed Costs ÷ (1 − Variable Cost Ratio). For example, if monthly fixed costs are 1.8M yen and variable cost ratio is 40% (0.4), Break-Even Sales = 1.8M ÷ 0.6 = 3.0M yen (or 4.0M yen if fixed costs are 2.4M yen).

Calculating FL Cost, Man-Hour Sales/Productivity, and Break-Even Point

Key points


  • FL Ratio = Food Cost Ratio (F) + Labor Cost Ratio (L); Labor Distribution Ratio = Labor Cost ÷ Gross Profit × 100

  • Man-Hour Sales = Sales ÷ Total Working Hours; Man-Hour Productivity = Gross Profit ÷ Total Working Hours

  • Break-Even Sales = Fixed Costs ÷ (1 − Variable Cost Ratio); reducing fixed costs or variable cost ratio lowers the break-even point
WordMeaning
FL ratio (food + labor cost ratio)
Labor distribution ratio
Man-hour productivity
Break-even sales

Ordering, Receiving, Physical Inventory, Menu Analysis, and Promotion

Ordering methods include 'fixed-quantity ordering' (ordering a set amount when stock hits the reorder point) and 'periodic ordering' (calculating needed amounts on set days); before holidays, calculate orders using a sales-based ordering table and safety stock.

At receiving, reject and return items with abnormal temperature or off-odor; during storage, strictly enforce First-In, First-Out (FIFO — using older stock first) and 5S.

For physical inventory counts, sort out defective items and empty boxes beforehand, count in pairs (one counter and one writer) repeating aloud to confirm, and have the manager sign.

Menu engineering analyzes items along 2 axes: 'sales volume (popularity)' and 'gross profit amount'. Promotions use set discounts to increase turnover and point programs/coupons to retain repeaters.

Key points


  • Fixed-quantity ordering orders a fixed amount at the reorder point; periodic ordering calculates needed amounts on scheduled days

  • Conduct physical inventory in pairs (counter and writer) with repeat-after-me confirmation, counting all actual stock

  • The 2 indicators of menu engineering (menu analysis) are 'number sold (popularity)' and 'gross profit amount'
WordMeaning
Fixed-quantity ordering system
First-In, First-Out (FIFO)
Physical inventory count
Number of items sold (sales volume)

Labor Management, OJT Coaching, Crime/Fire Prevention, and Environment

Issue a written Notice of Working Conditions upon hiring. Statutory working hours are 8 hours/day and 40 hours/week in principle (44 hours/week exception for restaurants with <10 regular workers); grant breaks of ≥45min for >6h work and ≥1h for >8h work.

Comply with the 5 Principles of Wage Payment (currency, direct, full, ≥monthly, fixed date), extra wage rates (overtime and late-night ≥25% each, ≥50% when combined), regular health checkups (annually, or every 6 months for night work), and Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance.

Proceed with OJT in 4 steps: (1) Show → (2) Tell → (3) Do → (4) Check (evaluate and coach), using visual manuals with photos/Easy Japanese, while preventing workplace harassment and SNS leaks.

Investigate any register cash discrepancy via receipts and report accurately; lock sales cash in a fireproof safe. Never pour water on oil fires—use a fire extinguisher; separate waste into business general waste and industrial waste for licensed contractors.

Key points


  • Statutory hours are 8h/day and 40h/week (44h/week for <10 workers); grant at least 1 day off/week or 4 days off/4 weeks

  • The 4 steps of OJT are: Show (demonstrate) → Tell (explain) → Do (let them try) → Check (evaluate and coach)

  • Use fire extinguishers for oil fires, clean grease on fire dampers, exterminate pests in breaker panels, and keep evacuation routes clear
WordMeaning
Statutory working hours
Extra wages (overtime/late-night premium pay)
On-the-job training (OJT)
Industrial waste

Official references