Manufacturing leaders know every day brings opportunities, challenges and risks. Not only are they focused on keeping workers safe against predictable and unpredictable threats, they also must provide consistent productivity that is constantly subject to external pressures.
One key way to proactively work toward ensuring a positive and productive work environment is to make the facility’s cleaning routine as simple and streamlined as possible. Companies may incorrectly assume that productivity improvements require high-tech and expensive solutions, but simple fixes often have the biggest impact.
For example, research from Tork USA indicates that 44% of workers are interrupted 20 times per day to gather and dispose of wiping and cleaning products. Industrial cleaning management is not a system separate from the rest; rather, it must be integrated into the daily practices and routines of all employees to optimise efficiency.
Location, location, location
While storing cleaning and wiping products centrally may initially appear to control waste and budget, it often drives up costs by resulting in unproductive foot travel and unnecessary product use. Workers spend time away from their daily tasks gathering and disposing of products – and create more motion and product waste in the process. Instead, consider utilising different types of dispensers and adjusting their location depending on type and use. This could include portable boxes that can be carried between stations, or fully enclosed and protected options that can be wall-mounted or attached with magnets to machines or carts.
For larger jobs, where it may be more difficult to refill dispensers or move between stations, choose high-capacity dispensers with large-format rolls. That way, employees can save time and energy while conserving company resources.
This rule doesn’t just apply to wipers and products that help clean manufacturing equipment. Placing hand sanitising or washing stations in accessible and visible locations, for example, encourages hygienic practices and demonstrates the company’s commitment to employee safety. Embedding cleaning into employees’ daily practices promotes a healthier workplace culture and, in turn, boosts productivity.
Good choices
Just as manufacturing leaders are careful to ensure new hires match company culture, goals and values, so too should they choose suppliers that align with their organisation’s needs. If a business wants to demonstrate that it prioritises responsible sourcing, it should consider suppliers with third-party certifications such as FSC, Green Seal and EcoLogo, as well as Ecovadis and other supplier ratings.
Likewise, the makeup and impact of each cleaning product used in the facility should be considered. If possible, manufacturers should use products with ingredients and functions that are designed specifically for the tasks at hand. In industrial environments, nine out of 10 employees believe having access to quality cleaning and wiping products boosts productivity, and even happiness on the job, according to a 2018 Tork Manufacturing survey. Choosing maintenance products that allow workers to complete their day-to-day tasks in an efficient and effective way is key to driving a higher level of performance and consistent workplace satisfaction.
Maintaining the future
With the challenges that manufacturing operators face today, maintenance is often made a low priority or swept aside altogether. However, by implementing these industrial cleaning practices, your facility’s operations will deliver benefits for your employees and the environment and help bring continued success to your business.
This is the viewpoint of Mike Kapalko, Regional Marketing Manager Industrial Segment Essity AB and it first appeared in Advanced Manufacturing
