The industrial cleaning revolution
October 1st 2009

Developments in workplace organisation and control have changed the face of cleaning and wiping in industry. Mark Riley of Tork wiper manufacturer SCA looks at how industrial wipers are changing to suit today's need

There was a time when rags were considered to be the answer to most industrial cleaning issues. But the workshop has changed dramatically over the past 50 years – and workplace cleaning has changed with it. Rags were the universal industrial wiper choice in the 1950s and 1960s when they were used for everything from wiping down machinery to cleaning hands.They were made from old cotton clothes and delivered in mixed bags to industrial units where they were used, reused and eventually discarded. But over the years disposable wipers have begun to replace rags – while also becoming much more integral to the manufacturing process. Behind this switch have been a number of important industry trends such as an increased emphasis on hygiene, health and safety as well as a drive towards increased efficiency and a keenness to improve waste management.

Waste not want not The move towards improved waste management is a recent initiative, and impregnated wipers can help in this area. A wiper that has been pre-soaked with the precise amount of cleaning solution required will control detergent use and reduce levels of waste.

Modern Best Practice systems have also helped to change the face of industry by streamlining working processes and increasing efficiency.

Today's disposable wipers fit well with systems such as the Japanese '5S' methodology, one of the most commonly-used business models of the last 20 years.

The 5S model refers to a method of organising shared work environments to improve morale, safety and efficiency.The methodology uses five Japanese words which, when translated into English, all begin with the letter S.

These words are: Sorting, or removing all but the most essential items from the workplace.

Straightening, in other words, arranging tools and equipment in a way to promote the most efficient workflow.

Shining, or keeping the workplace clean and uncluttered.

Standardising all work practices to keep them consistent.

Sustaining these procedures on a day-to-day basis.

As more UK firms adopt this Japanese approach, wiping solutions such as rags and laundered cloths become increasingly inappropriate. Soiled rags have no place in a clean, professional 5S environment. Instead, disposable wipers are often preferred because they arrive at the premises clean and ready for use and can be disposed of afterwards instead of cluttering up the workplace.

They also make the best use of the available space, for example,we believe one typical pack of Tork clean-cut industrial wipers is equal to the equivalent of 10kg of mixed rags.And the fact that these packs of wipers can be wall-mounted at strategic places around the workshop means that they are always to hand when required and productivity benefits as a result.

Some companies use laundered cloths for wiping tasks – textiles that are taken away by the supplier and cleaned before being returned for re-use.However, these can have a detrimental effect on workflow because the management of a laundered cloth system can be time-consuming.

For example, an inventory needs to be carried out manually when the cloths arrive and when they are taken away again. It may be that 100 cloths are counted into the workplace but only 90 can be accounted for after use, perhaps because they have been thrown away by mistake or inadvertently taken home in an employee's pocket.The remaining 10 cloths will have to be found and returned or paid for by the management.Tracking down the missing, soiled cloths is an ineffective use of employees' time while also being a poor fit with the 5S model.

X factor One very important factor to have determined the development of wipers over the years has been that of price, particularly in today's recession. Industrial buyers are constantly seeking the lowestcost wiper for the task in hand.However, it is not the simple question of price that is driving the wiper market today, but the more complex issue of cost in use.Wipers have to provide the best quality at the best price, and they also have to be suitable for the task in hand. For instance, processcritical applications such as cleaning oily components or polishing surfaces need wipers that have been expressly made for this purpose.

Wipers are no longer the 'optional extras' in the industrial workshop that are carelessly picked up to wipe away the odd splash of oil and grease and then casually discarded.The fact that wipers have an important contribution to make in improving health, safety, cleanliness and efficiency means that they have become integral to the smooth running of a manufacturing site. And with increasing technology and investment in disposable wipers, SCA believes wipers are likely to become an even more indispensable asset in the future.

More articles from SCA Tissue Europe: