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Integrated Systems and Team Cleaning
What's the Difference...
Many
people in the service industry associate Integrated
Systems and Team Cleaning as one in the same.
They may have similar attributes; however, they
are very much different. Integrated Systems
are made up of several components that have
been specifically matched for a facility. The
components can vary by market but are tied directly
to an individual facilities needs. The various
components include equipment, accessories, chemicals,
processes, training and, support. Before a building
can be cleaned all the issues that concern that
facility must be addressed. Time window for
cleaning, building constraints, type of surface
to be cleaned, frequencies, customer expectations
and, special needs of the facility. Without
a clear picture of the needs of a building a
plan of action cannot be formulated. An Integrated
System provides a mechanism to evaluate the
need before implementation of a program.
Team
cleaning focuses on assigning individuals to
functions of cleaning within a building. As
an example Team member number one high dusts
and wipes off desks in all areas while team
member two empties the trash receptacles and
vacuums. In team cleaning individuals become
more specialized at certain job functions. All
individuals must function as a unit to achieve
the desired result, a clean facility.
An Integrated
System presents many advantages over a Team
Cleaning concept. In an Integrated System all
needed employees are trained fully in all processes
of the cleaning task. This creates a multi-functional
work force with back up and vacation capability,
and not just a narrow focus of certain cleaning
tasks that are assigned to them as in team only.
Also the management team is trained to a higher
level for worker retraining, monitoring of production
times and quality levels. In facilities with
heavy work load an employee calling out sick
could jeopardize the success of the Team, since
their job function has become more specialized.
In an Integrated System substitution of personnel
becomes easier since all system workers interact
with all steps on a regular basis. This interaction
with all steps of the process creates a sense
of responsibility for all system members.
Conversely
in Team Cleaning there is more of an individualized
Specialist approach. Employees can begin to
create boundaries that go only as far as their
cleaning tasks. The cleanliness of the facility
will suffer if there is not constant supervision.
Another concern of Team Cleaning is the precise
timing required for all Team Members to be productive
at all times. As an example Team Member One
is held up by a slow elevator and does not complete
his tasks in an area before Team Member Two
arrives. Since Team Member Two has specific
duties he waits for Team Member One to finish
before he begins. An Integrated System creates
a constant flow of cleaning. The focus on the
complete process over assigned tasks allows
for worker flexibility as a schedule unfolds.
Changes within a building from day to day such
as obstructions, traffic flow and soil levels
can be easily addressed with the flexibility
of an integrated system.
An Integrated
System brings many more benefits ongoing to
a facility. Lower labor cost, product cost reductions,
a true return on investment, constant productivity,
consistent quality levels, employee growth,
accountability and flexibility are just some
of the areas an Integrated System surpasses
Team Cleaning. As budgets become tighter and
managers are pressed to find more creative solutions,
Integrated Systems will squeeze the most productivity
out of available labor.
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