KVS Options

When using Kitchen Video Screens (KVS) there are a couple different options on the way that it can be set up. How its set up depends on how your cooks like to run the kitchen. Here are the main options:

Option #1 – Full Automation (preferred method)

• No wheel screen is used.
• Each station has its own side screen showing a “To-Do List” of only the items they need to cook and when they need to cook them.
• Cook times must be entered, and prep times should be considered since they determine when items are sent to stations.
• When all items on a ticket are finished, it turns bright green on the expo screen and moves to the front, signaling that it is complete at all stations.

• Additional Notes:

  • Ensures all items in a ticket are coordinated by cook time, reducing wait time at plating.

  • Reduces verbal communication between stations.

  • Staff must be trained to fire items promptly, since delays affect the whole ticket.

  • Best for high-volume kitchens or multi-station setups.

Option #2 – Traditional Wheel Screen

• A “wheel” cook manually sends items to each side station. They would oversee the timing of when things get sent to the side stations.
• Cook times are optional, but recommended so side stations know how long each item takes.
  • Cook times should reflect actual cook times only, not prep time.
  • Items without cook times arrive in the order they were entered; with cook times, items are sorted longest cook time first.
• The wheel cook manually bumps the ticket to the expo screen when all items are finished at their stations.

• Additional Notes:

  • Relies heavily on the wheel cook’s experience and timing judgment.

  • Good option for kitchens with flexible staff or smaller operations.

  • Can lead to inconsistency if wheel cook is busy or distracted.

  • Allows for manual adjustments if a dish needs to be delayed or rushed.

Option #3 – Hybrid – Traditional Wheel Screen, with Auto Send 

• Items are automatically sent to side stations like Full Automation (#1).

• The wheel screen allows the main cook to see the full ticket.

• The wheel screen can also act as a side station, where items are fired and finished just like the individual station screens.
  

• Additional Notes:

  • Combines automation with manual oversight, giving cooks more control.

  • Useful in medium- to high-volume kitchens where timing is critical but some flexibility is needed.

  • Helps new or less experienced cooks understand flow while still keeping automation benefits.

  • Can reduce errors by visually showing the full ticket to the wheel cook.

 

Option #4 – Digital Tickets

• Screens are used only to display tickets.

• Typically, only the expo screen is needed.

• The kitchen sees the ticket and bumps it off when complete, but items are not sent to individual stations.
  

• Additional Notes:

  • Simplest setup; ideal for very small kitchens or single-station operations.

  • Staff still need to communicate verbally if multiple items require coordination.

  • Can be a good entry-level system for staff learning the KVS workflow.

  • Minimal training required, mostly on reading tickets and bumping them correctly.