Schedule

Schedule

n. A weekly timetable showing what days and hours an EMPLOYEE is expected to WORK. Compare NOT SCHEDULED. —v. To follow, prepare, provide input to or modify such timetables: “Please don't schedule me next Wednesday.” See also CLOCK.

NOTE: Schedules are posted weekly by DEPARTMENT, and are supposed to be up no later than noon on Friday for the week following.

Sheet

Sheet

n. 1. See NEGATIVE ORDER WORKSHEET: “Have you seen the sheet?” 2. See ASSET TRACKING WORKSHEET: “Don't forget to put that on the sheet!”

NOTE: Context—where you are and what you're doing—generally tells you which Sheet they're talking about. In the GROCERY BACK ROOM it's Sheet1, the NEGATIVE ORDER WORKSHEET, and on the LOADING DOCK it's Sheet2, the ASSET TRACKING WORKSHEET.

Shelf

Shelf

n. 1. By shortening, representative of any and all shelving in the public areas of the STORE which is used to support and DISPLAY ITEMS for sale: “Is that on the shelf?” 2. The specific SPOT or HOLE where an ITEM belongs: “Be sure that goes to the shelf.” 3. The long, narrow, silver-colored metal, angled shelf that fits between the slats of a BACKDROP, as on an END-CAP: “You'll need a shelf.” See BACKDROP. —v. To put an ITEM into it's proper SPOT on the SHELF: “Shelf this.” See WORK. See also SHELF OUT.

NOTE: By implication, the expectation when you're told to Shelf something is that it should all GO. However, if not, the remainder goes to the BACK ROOM as either SPECIALS or BACK-STOCK, as appropriate.

Shelf Out

Shelf Out

v. To remove a quantity of PRODUCT from a DISPLAY and, to the fullest extent possible, refill its regular SPOT on the SHELF: “Shelf Out the foil shipper near the front of 13.”

TIP: Shelf Out 1's & 2's. After you've filled the HOLE, yet have one or two pieces left over, don't bring them back! Instead, try to either gently JAM them into the HOLE or gracefully HIDE them nearby. The idea is to save your team time by reducing unnecessary handling. As for three extras, um, maybe. But, four or more should usually either stay on the SPECIALS CART or go into BACK-STOCK, as appropriate. Likewise, there are some single ITEMS that are so bulky, they just have to come back.

Sink

Sink

n. A large and deep slop-sink in the RECEIVING DEPARTMENT, and the only appropriate destination for any (even potentially) “wet” STORE DAMAGE, such as bottles with broken caps, etc.: “Put that in the sink.”

Skyline

Skyline

n. The top or uppermost profile of a DISPLAY (typically not including SHADOWBOX, if any). —v. To STACK ITEMS on the top SHELF in the AISLE higher than usual, sometimes by using scrap CARDBOARD to create additional layers: “Don't skyline aisle 4.”

NOTE:

TIP: Top Shelf Terrace? If you're desperate to make all of a top SHELF ITEM GO, consider SKYLINING the extra by laying down a solid scrap of CARDBOARD on top of what's already there and building upwards.

CAUTION: The extra top layer must be set well back, so at least two FACE ranks underneath it can be taken out without risk of toppling PRODUCT onto anyone's head.

Piling PRODUCT on the top shelf above a first or second layer is sometimes viewed as Not A Good Thing. Thus, seek case-by-case guidance from the GROCERY MANAGER if you think you need to do this. And of course, having any PRODUCT topple on to a CUSTOMER would be A Very Bad Thing!

UPDATE: Recent policy changes do not permit the Skyline to extend above the back of the topmost shelf.

Slot

Slot

n. Starting closest to the STORE'S main entrance, a designated position in the FAST-WALL or EVZ DISPLAY: “That's up in the Fast-Wall, 3rd slot.” Compare SPOT. See FAST-WALL.

Solid

Solid

adv. Refers to a DISPLAY that is densely packed, without excess intervening spaces: “Build it solid.” Contrast DUMMY UP.

Specials RUNNER

Specials RUNNER

n. A RUNNER or CART kept in the BACK ROOM and dedicated to holding up to a CASE or two of extra STOCK of some ON SALE ITEMS, from which the SHELF from time to time may be replenished: “Work the aisle 1 through 4 Specials Runners.” See also SPECIALS WALL, THROW, WORK.

Rollout Flowchart…

NOTE: At one point as I was pulling out yet another Specials Cart to WORK it, I happened to wonder, “Hey—Just what exactly am I doing?” I knew I was doing a lot of thinking and judging, so—just for fun—I thought I'd try to write down everything, just to see what I got. And the answer is...

DETAILS: Specials Runner ROLLOUT. Yep: once again, this is the deep end of the pool. The result of my ruminations was actually a flowchart, with diamonds for decisions, rectangles for process steps, and ovals for the start and stop terminals. Click on the thumbnail at right for a much larger view. Here's the condensed, text-only version:

   

• (Start)
  • [ Inspect cart in bay, before moving it ]
    • < Any items toppled/leaning on other carts? >
      • [ Carefully move non-involved cart(s) to gain access ]
      • [ Temporarily off-load items at risk of falling ]
    • < Any items stacked too high? >
      • [ Move adjacent cart(s) to gain access ]
      • [ Temporarily off-load items at risk of "scrape off" ]
    • < Wide items snagged on other carts? >
      • [ Jockey other cart(s) in bay to free snags ]
      • [ Withdraw interlocked carts together, then separate ]
    • < Precarious, unbalanced items? >
      • [ Move adjacent cart(s) to gain access ]
      • [ Reposition items for maximum safety ]
  
  
  • [ Pull cart out of bay ]
    • < Any other moved carts? >
      • [ Return other carts to proper slots in bay ]
  
  
  • [ Re-inspect cart ]
    • < Any leaks, spills, or damaged items? >
      • [ Casualties to damages rack, sink or trash, as appropriate ]
      • [ Clean up ]
    • < Any empty boxes, waste plastic, etc.? >
      • [ Recycle or dispose of properly ]
    • < Anything belong on other cart(s)? >
      • < Space available on proper cart(s)? >
        • [ Move hitchhiker item(s) to proper cart(s) ]
    • < Any temporarily off-loaded items? >
      • [ Return off-loaded items to cart ]
    • < Any items on other carts belong on this cart? >
      • < Space available? >
        • [ Move fugitive items back onto cart ]
    • < Precarious, unbalanced items? >
      • [ Reposition items for maximum safety ]
  
  
  • [ Put footstool onto cart ]
    • < Cart very full, too many items? >
      • [ Get shopping cart to hold cardboard, plastic ]
    • < Expect lots of waste plastic? >
      • [ Put milkcrate onto cart to hold plastic ]
  
  
  • [ Pull cart out to designated aisle(s) ]


• (etc...)

The description above may seem daunting, but the actual task is pretty straightforward and more often than not, downright easy. I don't recall the listed contingency inspections ever requiring action all at the same time. Usually it's just pull out the CART, grab a footstool (they help a lot when you're WORKING the top SHELF), and go!

For more about flowcharts, see for example:
^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowchart}

Split

Split

v. 1. To use the HIGH-LIFT to remove one loaded PALLET from its position as shipped piggy-backed one on top of another: “Split those pallets and work the bottom one.”. 2. See TAPE SPLIT.

NOTE: Naturally, before you Split them, you should CUT and separate any encircling WRAP that may be stabilizing the two piggy-backed PALLETS.

Spot

Spot

n. 1. An ITEM'S HOLE; i.e., its assigned location on the SHELF: “Where's the spot for this?” “Make a spot.” 2. See SLOT.

Stack Off

Stack Off

v. To neatly STACK a quantity of CASES of a single ITEM in a particular place, usually in the BACK ROOM, such as on an OVERSTOCK PALLET or against the SPECIALS WALL: “Stack it off on the Specials Wall.”

Store

Store

n. 1. The specific place of enterprise where you work. 2. The entire chain of STORES, or the company that owns them: “Store policy says...”

Store Supply

Store Supply

n. Any ITEM sold by the STORE that has been requisitioned for use within a DEPARTMENT: “I need to ‘supply’ this, please.”

NOTE: Requires prior approval by the M.O.D. and is logged and signed for at the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK, where a special sticker is affixed to the merchandise. Examples might include footstools, cellophane tape, rope, etc.