McDonald's High-Tech With Kitchen, Kiosks

[Cassandra]

http://money.netscape.cnn.com/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20030804%2F115319430.htm

"Automated vertical grill. McDonald's first new grill innovation since 1985 pushes patties out of a freezer component and sends them by belt to a heating unit. Cooking time is the same, but labor costs are reduced and staff is freed up to interact more with customers as needed.

McDonald's will pilot-test the concept, which originated in Sweden, in Chicago-area restaurants this year as part of feasibility studies.

Automated french-fry system. Load ``Auto Frites'' with frozen fries and it takes over, dumping them into the fryer when an order is placed. A robotic arm scoops up the finished products, inserts them into fry boxes, even shakes them to get more in before gently placing them in out slots.

Further evidence of its push to improve its often-criticized service via technology: McDonald's has begun giving new employees hospitality training using specially developed interactive CDs on computer terminals. A key message dished up repeatedly to young workers like video-game entertainment: Smile a lot and say ``hello'' and ``thank you.''"

Well, if the good jobs go overseas and the lousy jobs are done by robots, what's left?

[SuperZippy]

1. hospitality training

at mcdonalds?

yeah right.

one of the absolute worst service companies in the world.

[ramapo]

2. Bad news for IT & factory workers

There'll be less work at Mickey D's for those who lose out to offshoring (some verb huh?).

We'll need more Wal-Marts.

[shrike]

3. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing

Fewer burgers to flip, fewer jobs.