What restaurant system did the McDonald brothers introduce in 1948?

The McDonald brothers introduced the Speedee Service System in 1948.

Richard and Maurice McDonald redesigned their San Bernardino, California, restaurant around speed, consistency, and a limited menu. The system used specialized workstations and an assembly-line approach so employees could prepare popular items rapidly. It became an important foundation for the modern fast-food restaurant model.

The name “Speedee” connected the operating method with an early McDonald’s mascot. The brothers’ system emphasized standardized portions and repeatable procedures rather than the broader menu and table service common at many restaurants of the time.

Ray Kroc later expanded McDonald’s through franchising, but the basic high-speed operating concept originated with the McDonald brothers. The Speedee Service System should not be confused with the later Golden Arches branding, which represented the restaurants visually rather than describing their kitchen process.