Computer Modeling of the Cooking Process for Pizza

Pizza places are very popular with American consumers. A recent consumer survey conducted by Restaurants and Institutions ranked pizza places as the third most popular type of eating establishment. Pizza sales have increased by almost 55 percent between 1984 and 1989. The greatest challenges facing the industry, according to Gordon 1989, is the impending labor shortage. Labor woes and rising energy costs have forced the segment to seek ways to be more productive. The process could be shortened and costs reduced if a mathematical model could be developed to predict cooking times. The model must be easy to use and utilize data that can be collected without requiring the use of specialized equipment and sensors.