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Throughout this paper I will compare and contrast quality management between McDonald’s and Sonic. I will explain similar processes or procedures that the company does, and explain how those processes or procedures produce a competitive product or service in the domestic and global markets. Finally I will mention how quality management effects the position of the companies in the domestic and global markets. McDonald’s first restaurant opened its doors in 1945 in Downe, California, by two brothers named Dick and Mac McDonald. The restaurant sold mostly barbeque, but after realizing that their profits were coming from the hamburgers they made they decided to close down the restaurant for a few months and make plans to sell their hamburgers. When they reopened the restaurant, they sold nothing but hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes (Blogger, 2009). The first sonic restaurant first opened its doors in 1953 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, by a man named Troy Smith. When Sonic first opened, it was called the top hat drive-in. The drive- in restaurant sold nothing but burgers, and root beer. In 1959 its name changed to Sonic Restaurant (management careers, 2000-2012). Just like other restaurants McDonald’s and Sonics main concern is the appearance of their restaurants. Both businesses have a policy that enforces cleanness. They enforce this policy so that their restaurants can maintain a good reputation. Both restaurants started off using a traditional cash register where they tallied up the customers cost for his or her orders. Today they have cash registers run by computers. The cash registers are run by a wireless connection that allows employees, even the kitchen crew to see the orders so that the orders can be assembled and other employees can take other orders. Sonic and McDonald’s offer drive-in services, which also run off the wireless system. The wireless system allows more the one employee to take orders at a time. Both Sonic and McDonald’s service system is set up so each employee has his or her own job to do. Making quality products takes effort from the employees. Like other fast food restaurants Sonic and McDonald’s have a procedure and policy for food preparation. Employees must was their hands after handling money or using the bathroom, wear hair nets when working around food, and wear gloves when touching the food. Both restaurants use special equipment to prepare their food and keep it fresh. The equipment consists of special grills, timers, warmers, and refrigerators. Most Businesses start off as a small private company, through hard work and success they become a well-known public company. There are many differences between private and public companies. Private companies do not offer their stock to the public. They have different challenges concerning making money. Private businesses often have different standards of value than public companies. A public company often trades or sells their stock whenever they want. Many people own parts of the company. A private company has very few stockholders and is run by a family (Sherman, 1999-2012). Sonic has become the largest chain of drive-in restaurants in the United States. Sonic has been around for more than 50 years and has 3,500 drive-in locations. Sonic is the most visited fast food restaurant in America, but they do not have any restaurants outside the United States (America's drive-in properties, 2010). McDonald’s is a public company that has many owners. Over 80% of McDonald’s restaurants are run by their franchises. They have the top-leading franchise in the world. McDonald’s has 30,000 restaurants in the world but they only own and operate 27% of them. They have more than 13,000 restaurants in the Unites States alone but only own and operate 15% of them (McDonald’s, 2010-2012). Because McDonald’s owns many restaurants throughout the world, they outnumber the Sonic restaurant in sales. Sonic and McDonald’s both offer quality service to their customers by providing fast and excellent service. They both produce quality products that keep their consumers wanting to come back. They both guarantee fresh food, excellent service, and offer many meals that meet the customer’s standards. Sonic and McDonald’s make sure that their food is fresh and meets the expectations of consumers by keeping their menu’s simple so the guarantee those results. They are both fast food restaurants that take pride in their customers, and they value each of them. If customers are not 100% satisfied with their products or their service they can return their product and leave a comment card for the owners to read so they can look into what caused the problem. Both Sonic and McDonald’s follow the total quality management system to ensure that they are constantly meeting the needs of their customers and stakeholders. They both use marketing strategy to help them improve their weaknesses, which is how they got where they are today. The market strategy has taught them that the market driven quality must be discovered by their customers and other consumers, not by the company (Goetsch&Davis, 2010). In conclusion, Sonic, and McDonald’s are two of the largest and most successful fast food restaurants in the world. Without their hard work, quality products, quality services, and their value toward their dedicated customers they would not be as successful as they are today.

References America's drive-in properties. (2010). Backgrounder. Retrieved from http://www.sonic drive-in.com Blogger. (2009). History of Mcdonalds restaurant. Retrieved from http://historymcdonaldsrestaurant.blogspot.com
Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2010). Quality management for organizational excellence: Introduction to total quality (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Mcdonalds. (2010-2012). Welcome to Mcfranchise. Retrieved from http://www.mcdonalds.com
Restaurant management careers. (2000-2012). Sonic drive-in. Retrieved from http://www.foodbizjob.com
Sherman, F. (1999-2012). Difference between a private and public company. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com