Thoughts on Sorting in the Store - Revision history

Luiz: /* To Sort or Not to Sort */

2007-09-18T22:57:31Z

To Sort or Not to Sort

Luiz: /* To Sort or Not to Sort */

2007-09-18T22:56:05Z

To Sort or Not to Sort

Luiz at 22:51, 18 September 2007

2007-09-18T22:51:21Z

Luiz at 22:43, 18 September 2007

2007-09-18T22:43:58Z

Luiz: /* To Sort or Not to Sort */

2007-09-18T22:34:35Z

To Sort or Not to Sort

Luiz at 21:29, 15 September 2007

2007-09-15T21:29:45Z

Luiz at 21:23, 15 September 2007

2007-09-15T21:23:19Z

Luiz: /* Possible Categories */

2007-09-15T21:19:46Z

Possible Categories

Luiz at 21:18, 15 September 2007

2007-09-15T21:18:26Z

Luiz at 01:04, 15 September 2007

2007-09-15T01:04:53Z

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 **Valuable
 **Made more valuable by sort to a degree that warrants the labor
 == Items that Should be Sorted or More sorted ==

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 **5) Non-computer stuff that does not require sorting
 **6) Non-computer stuff that we dont care about
 == Items that Should be Sorted or More sorted ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:51, 18 September 2007
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		+	== Why do this? ==
		+
		+	Thinking about why we sort things is an important first step towards a robust and relativley uniform system of sorting. The primary goal of such a system would be to allow a volunteer to be as productive as possible with a minimum amount of coordination. This would allow the store to more effectivley continue to serve its existing purpose of making money, while allowing the store to be a good place to make volunteers more familiar with the types of doodads that are out there. Visual systems are the most desirable from a production standpoint, but have limitations to be discussed.
		+
	== Possible Categories ==		== Possible Categories ==
		+
		+	For this section, the categories are in order of the similarity of stuff in the container
		+
		+	'''Cat 0 - Absolute uniformity''' Everything in the box is absolutely the same as every other. In practice, this only happens when someone donates a lot of identical goods. This is not practical for this type of operation.

	'''Cat 1- Highly/Completely Sorted''' (At least 2 identical characteristics, most other char. similar (ex: a 3' and 6' power cable). Things get to this point either through a combination of rote labor and process, or because a large lot of presorted goods is donated. These goods often become "legacy" sorted, which is to say, we continue to sort them because they are now. This type of sort happens in response to the item being commonly requested, or because of an over-zealous volunteer.		'''Cat 1- Highly/Completely Sorted''' (At least 2 identical characteristics, most other char. similar (ex: a 3' and 6' power cable). Things get to this point either through a combination of rote labor and process, or because a large lot of presorted goods is donated. These goods often become "legacy" sorted, which is to say, we continue to sort them because they are now. This type of sort happens in response to the item being commonly requested, or because of an over-zealous volunteer.

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 **For well-known themes this is a very easy sort, almost no training required (A/V)
 **For esoteric themes, this is a very hard sort
 == To Sort or Not to Sort ==

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 == To Sort or Not to Sort ==
-We have:
+*We have:
-) Computer stuff worth  sorting
+**1) Computer stuff worth  sorting
-) Computer stuff that does not require sorting
+**2) Computer stuff that does not require sorting
-) Computer stuff we dont care about
+**3) Computer stuff we dont care about
-) Non-computer stuff worth sorting
+**4) Non-computer stuff worth sorting
-) Non-computer stuff that does not require sorting
+**5) Non-computer stuff that does not require sorting
-) Non-computer stuff that we dont care about
+**6) Non-computer stuff that we dont care about
 == Items that Should be Sorted or More sorted ==

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 **Pros - Deals with a problem, Easy sort, requires volunteers to learn other sorts
 **Cons - Not helpful to customer or store folks, messy looking, limited uses
-* Sort by Theme
+* '''Sort by Theme'''
 == To Sort or Not to Sort ==
 == Items that Should be Sorted or More sorted ==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Cat 1- Highly/Completely Sorted''' (At least 2 identical characteristics, most other char. similar (ex: a 3' and 6' power cable).  Things get to this point either through a combination of rote labor and process, or because a large lot of presorted goods is donated.  These goods often become "legacy" sorted, which is to say, we continue to sort them because they are now.  This type of sort happens in response to the item being commonly requested, or because of an over-zealous volunteer.
-* Examples: Power cords, Figure 8, DVI/DVI, DVI/VGA, IDE, Floppy, VGA/VGA, Some USB cables, HDD, Mice, Keyboards
+* Examples: Power cords, Figure 8, DVI/DVI, DVI/VGA, IDE, Floppy, VGA/VGA, Some USB cables, HDD, Mice, Keyboards, some adaptors
 '''Cat 2 - Partially Sorted''' (At least one identical char., others similar or quite different (example USB to mini, USB to serial)  This type of sort requires less labor in total.  This is usually in response to things that people commonly want, but would be too time consuming at present to completely sort.
-* Examples - Most usb cables, some SCSI devices
+* Examples - Most usb cables, some SCSI devices, some adaptors
-'''Cat 3 - Marginally Sorted''' (Theme-based sorting, perhaps a few similar char.(ex: motherboard card risers)) Also called herding, this a slight sort for items that will never have an impact on the balance sheet.  These types of sorts encourage knowledgable small-item customers to come to the store rather than goodwill (virtually unsorted).
+'''Cat 3 - Marginally Sorted''' (Less important or theme-based sorting, perhaps a few similar char.(ex: motherboard card risers)) Also called herding, this a slight sort for items that will never have an impact on the balance sheet.  These types of sorts encourage knowledgable small-item customers to come to the store rather than goodwill (virtually unsorted).
-* Examples - Most boxes of cables in the back on the red shelves. Stuff in the glass case.
+* Examples - Most boxes of cables in the back on the red shelves. Stuff in the glass case.  A/V.
 '''Cat 4 - Barely/Completely Unsorted''' (Barest sort, or none at all, perhaps theme-based...the "dont care much" group) Crap thrown into a box.  Stuff we don't much care about.
 * Examples - Free Table, Buck box, some boxes of cables
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 **Pros - Deals with a problem, Easy sort, requires volunteers to learn other sorts
 **Cons - Not helpful to customer or store folks, messy looking, limited uses

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 == Sortings Methods ==
-* Sort by function
+* '''Sort by functio'''n
 **Pros - Helps teach volunteers what doodads do, helps customers get right doodad for purpose
 **Cons - Requires alot of knowlege of esoteric doodads and implementations
-* Sort by connectors
+* '''Sort by connectors'''
 **Pros - Easy to teach, easy to learn, visual
 **Cons - Uses of doodads not apparent
-* Sort by length/quantity (only some doodads)
+* '''Sort by length/quantity''' (only some doodads)
 **Pros - Pretty easy to teach/learn, but must be paired with another type of sort, some doodads uses are bounded by this consideration
 **Cons - Time consuming additional sort, boring
-* Sort by quality
+* '''Sort by quality'''
 **Pros - Maximum $$, Enjoyable for geeks, Makes our stock seem nicer
 **Cons - Very hard to teach or triage, not visual
-* Sort by remainder
+* '''Sort by remainder'''
 **Pros - Deals with a problem, Easy sort, requires volunteers to learn other sorts
 **Cons - Not helpful to customer or store folks, messy looking, limited uses