In today’s fast-paced world, fast food chains are thriving as sources of quick and affordable meals. To achieve rapid order turnaround from the front desk to the kitchen and back, Pizza Hut utilizes the W-8337, also known as the ISaGRAF WinCON controller, which is programmed in Ladder Logic.
The need for additional personnel can be minimized through the use of a WinCON controller connected to multiple devices, including touch screens. Customers can input their orders directly into the system, and the WinCON can also be linked to bill and coin acceptors, allowing customers to pay immediately after placing their orders.
Only one serial printer is required to print the order number and the selected dish. This information is simultaneously transmitted to the kitchen and can also be displayed on an LCD monitor. Not only does this setup reduce personnel costs, but daily sales reports can also be automatically saved to the compact flash memory of the WinCON-8337. The data can later be retrieved using a USB flash drive and analyzed to gather insights such as menu preferences.
While this ICP DAS technology is currently being used in a pizza restaurant, it can easily be adapted to benefit any fast-food chain. The WinCON series effectively integrates PC and PLC functionality into a single, compact platform.
