PMC has worked with several of North America’s largest retail corporations to reliably improve the key performance indicator (KPI) Gross Margin Return On Inventory (GMROI). This is done by applying precision retailing techniques to reduce operating costs. The uniquely broad and synergistic capabilities PMC offers span the entire range of the retail business process, from initial order placement to on-site customer checkout. PMC’s operations engineering expertise can help you increase your productivity and overall profits in both retail floor and back office operations.

A sampling of the services PMC provides to Retail Industry includes:

• Engineered Labor Standards
• Operational Process Improvements and Methods Analysis
• Work Measurement Studies
• Work Instructions / Job Descriptions / Role Checklists
• Retail Associate Utilization Studies
• Dynamic Demand Driven Scheduling
• Retail Waste Identification and Elimination

• Lean Retailing
• Floor and Space Planning
• Supply Chain Management and Optimization
• Customer Experience Improvement Opportunities
• Workforce Management
• Queue Management and Simulation Analysis
• Scheduling and Replenishment
• Warehousing Analysis and Design

PMC uses a systematic approach to improving margins when working in the retail industry. Since revenues are typically set by the market, and merchandise costs can rarely be reduced, PMC focuses on the second largest cost associated with retailers; labor cost. In many cases, service level is a key differentiator between competing retailers; therefore, PMC strives to reduce labor costs without reducing service levels.

Many retailers have implemented Workforce Management (WFM) systems to assist with scheduling of resources; however, very few are providing the appropriate input parameters to their WFM software. These companies are typically providing estimated cycle times to the software, which will produce a labor schedule based on the inefficiencies hidden within the current working methods used. As a result, retailers are not successfully achieving their maximum potential benefits from workforce scheduling. Workload-driven schedules should not be based on how long tasks take today but on how long tasks should take based on the standard time. Further improvement to the current work method used leads to an improved labor standard and increased workforce productivity. PMC can develop Engineered Labor Standards to provide more meaningful results and help our customers fully realize the potential of their WFM tool to improve store operations.

PMC utilizes top-of-the-line tools and technology in the development of Engineered Labor Standards. RetailEASE® software and other predetermined time systems are used for repetitive tasks. Time required for customer service and sales labor needs are determined through the use of Random Sampling and traditional stopwatch techniques. However, the development of Engineered Labor Standards is only the foundation for reducing labor costs. The standards developed can be used to perform Methods Analyses to reduce the cycle times of the activities. Process Improvement and Best Practices can be deployed to optimize the processes.

PMC can also perform discrete event simulation analyses with the software package that best suits your needs. Continually striving for excellence is at the core of PMC’s philosophy. Having completed over 6,000 successful projects, some on behalf of the best-in-class and largest retail chains, PMC’s competence is of the highest caliber, as corroborated by our clients’ repeat business. With services and solutions that guide your company to the right path for all situations, PMC is uniquely qualified to provide insight into your improvement opportunities, assess them, and work with you to implement the most cost-effective ones. Here at PMC it is our practice to share with our clients the decisive knowledge to generate valuable results and increase profits.