Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008 - (Page 14)

ICM is a systems-approach to cleaning that incorporates measurement as a cornerstone of the process. A key to any improvement initiative is the ability to measure. Today, there are scientific measurement technologies simple enough for custodians to use on a daily basis, which provide immediate feedback about their cleaning products and processes. As Alvin Toffler noted, this type of information creates a power shift—it puts power back into the hands of users, who will now be able to separate fact from fiction, and accurately document performance. Custodians will no longer depend solely on the recommendations of manufacturers or even industry gurus—measurement will give them the data they need to prove if systems, products, processes, or even “expert advice” truly live up to marketing and other claims. i by Frank N. Wiley demanding high capability and continuous improvement; and then to manage the system for results or outcomes. You want to be able to design and equip the system for results and then prove that what you are doing is effective. This is particularly true as custodial departments struggle with budget and staffing cuts. When companies need to reduce expenses, they often start with their janitorial staff. To combat this trend, you need to show the value of your department’s documented system, as well as the risks associated with altering the system through unwise meddling or resource reductions. The only way to do that is with data—and that means measurement. By implementing ICM programs, housekeeping departments will be able to verify the results they achieve. In addition to tracking enhanced productivity—using time studies—you can now show levels of cleanliness and more, with new high-tech tools like ATP meters. ATP measurement has been used in food processing for years, but the cleaning industry lacked such precise and portable devices until now. As organizations like the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) help to prove the link between cleaning and health, your measurements will confirm that you are not only cleaning your facilities, but enhancing the health and well-being of the occupants. And measurements will also reveal when system alterations or cutbacks threaten those benefits. The ICM Cycle Why ICM The goal of every organization should be to create a system Like any ongoing improvement process, ICM is not a “destination” as much as a journey—toward cleaner, healthier buildings. By integrating measurement with systems of cleaning, ICM enables a cycle of what the Japanese call “Kaizen,” or continuous improvement. Anyone starting an ICM initiative will typically follow a four-step process: 4 Executive Housekeeping Today/October 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008� Contents Executive Corner An Easier, Greener, and Healthier Approach to Floor Care Caring for Carpets in 24-Hour Facilities Frugal Housekeeper Case Study: University of Miami My Experiences with High-Speed Machines vs. Spray Buffers Vacuum Floor Care Q&A with Andre Motta Is a Spray-and-Vac System Really Better at Cleaning and Reducing the Risk of Disease? CEU Article The IEHA/CRI Partnership The Green Scene USGBC Green Tip What's in YOUR Janitor Closet? Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members REH/CEH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008

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