FROM THE EDITOR
In the early eighties, when I wanted to open a bank account in a Mumbai western suburb, I visited a few banks and selected the one which looked reasonably neat and had clean chairs to sit and wait. The parameters for choosing your bank may be very much different today, but the fact is that banks have also realised the need for maintaining their premises clean as an essential service to their customers. When CIJ spoke to the facility heads of different banks, what came through was that the main impediment to effective outsourcing of FM function has been the cost structure and tendering system, especially with the nationalised banks. However, banks like HDFC have managed to streamline the payment procedures to the cleaning staff of the service providers and put a workable system in place. The lead story this month looks at the dual perspectives of quality and cost and also lists out the benefits a cleaning worker is eligible for.
When I attend international cleaning shows, I marvel at the innovations in cleaning equipment and applications. What I have gathered by talking to the manufacturers is that it is the end user who ultimately directs the technological innovations. Unless the customer demands, product development cannot happen. If the process of innovation has to continue, there has to be a constant stream of demands and suggestions from the actual user. It is reported that some of the best innovations have sprung from the suggestions made by the cleaning staff at the entry level! Technology that can lower labour costs, increase operating efficiencies and provide more effective results is important to the development of the cleaning industry.
Clean India Pulire in November in Mumbai will showcase the latest in cleaning equipment, chemicals and systems for the benefit of the end users and the cleaning industry. The uniqueness of this year’s show is that India’s first Integrated Facility Management Show – IFM – is happening side by side. An opportunity everyone has been waiting for.
Editor
Clean India Journal
