Pre-production Items for KDS

The KDS supports the display and handling of pre-production items, allowing orders to be prepared in a more timely manner. Pre-production features streamline kitchen production by having some prep work done in advance for specific menu items. This also can help break down the preparation of a complex item into more distinct steps.

Chefs will be aware of menu items that may require additional preparation time outside of the normal prep time. For example, a hamburger takes 8 minutes to grill, but adding a specific seasoning to the hamburger patty may take more prep time to coat properly. This extra prep needs to be done before placing the hamburger on the grill (Prep Station), but can be done any time up to the item’s start time.

You can specify the menu items to be displayed as pre-production items, and chefs can see these pre-production items on KDS displays separately from the fired items. You can also add the men item’s pre-production time to the prep time. The following configuration is available in the EMC Components module:

• PreProduction Course Offset: This offset value allows the menu item component to display as part of an earlier dining course. If the value is not set or is 0 (zero), the item is treated as a regular component.

• PreProduction Done Required: When enabled, the pre-production component must be completed before allowing the subsequent dining course (or menu item in the case of an order with only one course) to be released.

See Creating Menu Item Components for more information.