Case Problem $7\mathrm{.}1$

Workout Plus

Workout Plus is a health club that offers a full range of services to its clients. Recently, two other fitness clubs have opened up in town, threatening Workout$$s solvency. While Workout is tops among serious fitness buffs, it has not attracted a wide spectrum of members. Shannon Hiller, owner and manager, has decided it$$s time for a face$-$lift. She started the process by sponsoring a week$-$long $$ideathon$$ among club members. Nonmembers who frequented an adjacent grocery store were also canvassed for suggestions. Their comments are provided below, along with the current facility layout.

Current layout:

A layout diagram. A rectangle is divided into four quadrants; they are labeled from the top left in the clockwise direction as follows: Free weights, circuit training, cardio machines, and aerobics room.

Member comments:

The cardio machines fill up too fast on rainy days. Then everything else gets backed up$.$

I don$$t feel like strutting through the gym from one end to the other just to finish my workout.

How about a quick $30-$minute workout routine for busy folks?

I like working out with my friends, but aerobics is not for me$.$ What other group activities are good for cardio?

Separate the people who want to gab from the people who want to pump.

It$$s so confusing with all those machines and weights. You need a novice section that$$s not so intimidating.

It$$s hard to work yourself in when you come from across the gym. I$$d like to see the machines I$$ll be using to gauge my time.

Circuit training is for wimps. The next thing you know you$$ll be stopping and starting the music to tell us when to change machines.

We all seem to arrive at the popular machines at once. Can you space us out?

I$$d like for my kids to get some exercise too while I$$m working out. But I don$$t want them wandering all over the place trying to find me$.$

This place is too crowded and disorganized. It$$s not fun anymore.

You have classes only at busy times. During the day the gym is empty, but you don$$t provide many services. I think you$$re missing a great opportunity to connect with the not$-$so$-$fit at off$-$peak times.

Questions to be addressed in your Case Analysis:

$1.$ How can Workout update its facility to attract new customers? What additional equipment or services would you suggest? How could something as simple as revising the layout help?

$2.$ It is your job to design a new layout for Workout Plus. Visit a nearby gym to get ideas. Watch the customer flow, unused space, and bottlenecks. What aspects of a process layout do you see? A product layout? Cells? Draw a simple diagram of your proposed layout. $($You$$ll want to be more detailed than the original layout.$)$ How does your layout respond to the comments collected by Shannon?