Working in partnership

With so much importance being placed on cleanliness and the effect it can have on an organisation’s reputation, there is a strong argument for having a robust cleaning strategy in place. A cleaning strategy can be a successful means of differentiation and provide organisations with a competitive advantage as well as reduce risk factors that could lead to employee absence, health and safety breaches and potentially sick building syndrome. Poor standards of cleanliness along with airborne particles, such as dust, carpet fibres, fungal spores and airborne chemical pollutants can be risk factors for many organisations.

 

Working in partnership to drive change and innovation can lead to cost savings and increased revenues, whilst a good cultural fit between an organisation and its cleaning provider will also support brand values. Cleanliness is a key driver of customer retention and the challenge for organisations and in particular, their facilities management team, is how to use it to drive added value and increase the bottom line.  

 

Lean cleaning

 

It’s important to think about cleaning smart not hard. For example, look at the systems you have in place and consider how you might reduce costs and save time. Processes such as Lean Cleaning, enable an organisation to be more efficient.

 

Lean Cleaning involves assessing a space to understand what systems need to be implemented to meet the required specification then using tools such as daily plan setting, process mapping and working to specific needs, to achieve the desired outcomes. Emprise makes it a policy to incorporate environmentally-friendly cleaning processes wherever possible. These can also aid productivity and bring cost-savings from energy and waste reduction.

 

When it comes to deciding whether to outsource cleaning services, there are a number of benefits. Working with a service partner to develop a robust cleaning strategy can be a successful way of adding value as well as saving resources and reducing energy consumption. Outsourcing also guarantees that the responsibility for cleaning, materials, staff and training, lies with the provider.

 

Case study 

A major retailer with multiple stores was able to achieve significant cost savings through its cleaning service provision. The first step was to develop a cleaning strategy and working model for its stores, which required daily shop floor cleaning, back of house stock room and warehouse cleaning, janitorial services, deep cleans, window cleaning and periodic cleans.

 

A highly efficient output specification cleaning model was implemented enabling smarter working and at the same time, driving cost savings. One key part of the strategy was Process Mapping, which was designed to save time yet maintain standards, and involved mapping cleaners’ routes through each store and the order of jobs to be done. Another key component was the installation of more efficient equipment that helped to reduce the hours a cleaner needed to carry out each job. This proactive and partnership approach continues to help this national retailer create a great customer experience whilst significantly reducing operational cost and driving value.