Vending Machines Chang Hehao, Bernard Lim, Poh Jer Lin, Raghav Mathur (M07203)

Problem Area  Some people find that the school’s vending machines offer too small a variety of food and drinks, and that the machines are faulty.

Mode of Data Collection  We did a random survey of 50 students in the canteen during our 5 hour free period from 10.30am to 3.30pm by person.

Arrangement and tabulation of data  We used a tally chart to tally the data.  We counted the number of tallies and recorded it down.

Presentation of data  We presented the data using pie charts.

Question 1 Are you generally satisfied with the school’s vending machines (The range of food and the working condition)? 23 Yes 27 No

Question 2 Do you think that the range of food and drinks offered in the school’s vending machines could be improved? 43 yes 7 no

Question 3 If yes, what do you think should be added to the school’s vending machines current range of food and drinks? A 8 – Hot Sandwiches B 7 – Cup Drinks C 21 – A AND B D 5 - Others E 2 – A, B and others

Question 4(Part 1) Are any of the school’s vending machines faulty? 27 yes 23 no

Question 4 part 2 If yes, which vending machine is faulty? Coke Canned Drinks Machine 5 Coke Bottles Drinks Machine 13 Heaven & Earth Canned Drinks Machine 2 Snack Machine 11 Meiji Machine 2

Question 5 How is it faulty?  Product is not dispensed 14  Wrong products dispensed 4  Others 2  A and Others (Wrong Change is dispensed or coins not accepted) 10

Analysis Based on the first question, we conclude that majority of the people surveyed, are not satisfied with the school’s vending machines range of food and drinks and working condition.

Analysis (cont.) 86% of the people surveyed think that the range of food and drinks offered could be improved. 72% of the people surveyed think that hot sandwiches should be offered while almost 70% think that cup drinks should be offered. However there is no particular great demand for any product specified.

Analysis (cont.) The majority also stated that some of the school’s vending machines were faulty. About 40% of the statistics show that the Coke bottled drink machine is faulty and a third of the statistics state that the snack machine is faulty.

Explanation for analysis  We chose to interpret the data this way so as to accentuate that there is a problem present within the vending machines and that there is a solution present.

Analysis (cont.) According to the survey results, the machine is usually faulty because it fails to dispense the product. Another minor way that the machine is faulty is that it dispenses the wrong product.

Conclusion We conclude that the majority of the students in our school are generally not satisfied with the school’s vending machines. They think that more food and drinks should be offered, especially hot sandwiches. The majority of the school also think that the machines are faulty especially because they sometimes do not dispense the product chosen.

Solutions We recommend that the school add a hot sandwich machine and repair all the machines especially the coke bottle machine. If not, we could request the café and drink stall uncles, which sell sandwiches, to serve hot sandwiches too, by showing them proof that there is hot demand for hot sandwiches.

Implications of analysis  Implications of the analysis: We have sufficient evidence that the school is unhappy with the vending machines and therefore can request the school to add new vending machines and service and repair them regularly.  Data presented : The pie chart for Q2, Q4 and Q5 accentuate the potential cause of the problem that the school is not satisfied with the vending machines. Q3 and Q4 (ii) and Q5 accentuate the potential solution. To service the machines and add new machines.

Mode of data collection  Mode of data collection: By surveying people ourselves, we are able to ensure that people are not surveyed more than once, unlike in online surveys. They will tend to respond to us, unlike online surveys. By handing out paper surveys, we might not be able to get all the surveys back. By surveying them ourselves, we are also able to show others that we are sincere and serious about our work.

Timeline  Firstly, we will write a letter and attach it to our presentation and address it to Mrs. Phang so that she can consider implementing our solution. If she agrees, we will contact the sandwich machine vendor and request them to place a machine in our school. We will also ask the current vending machine operators to service their machines.

Timeline  If she disagrees, we will ask the canteen uncles to sell hot sandwiches (with proof of demand from our survey).