Page 36 - CIJ May 2023 Digital Edition

Focus

Case study
Eliminating escalator breakdowns in malls

Rohit Kaul, Operations Head – North Region, Embassy Services takes us
through the process from problem identification to impact of solutions.

The facility • Escalator preventive closely observing the cleaning
• Name: Indiabulls Mega Mall, maintenance was completed on and analysing the results, it
was found that the tripping of
time and in accordance with the
Jodhpur, Rajasthan OEM schedule escalators and slowing down of
• Type of building: Mall with • The escalator speed suddenly machinery had been reduced.
retail and commercial space decreases due to dust • Later, the frequency of escalator
• Total area: 1 million sq ft • Stain marks were noticed machine-cleaning was changed
• Parts of the facility: 5 blocks, because of inadequate manual to once per week for all eight
escalators, particularly before
7 floors, 263 office space units, cleaning the weekend.
653 shops, 1,019 parking slots, • The escalator motor pit’s dust
lobby, escalators, restrooms, particles were visible Impact analysis
cafeteria, external landscape,
high ceiling, etc. • Every time there is a • Escalator downtime has
• Services: Housekeeping, breakdown, the sensors need to decreased.
be cleaned
technical services, security, • Decrease in the escalator’s
landscaping & horticulture, • According to the breakdown operating expenses
pest control, façade cleaning, history, weekends were the days • People’s confidence in using
waste management, parking when breakdowns were most escalators has increased
management. prevalent. • As a result of machine cleaning,
• Upon examining the cleaning the sensor and spare part ageing
Housekeeping schedule of the escalator, it on escalators improved.
requirements was discovered that weekend • Escalators were made more
hygienic for users.
breakdowns continued to
Areas: Mall upkeep, basement occur even with daily cleaning • Presenting a spotless and
cleaning, material store, lift lobby, frequency. orderly escalator to consumers
reception area, mall management as a best practice
office, utility area, parking area Mitigation plan • Had a positive impact on
Services: Consumables • Controlling the tiny dust business and attracted footfall.
procurement, mechanised cleaning, particles at the footstep level.
sanitisation, deep cleaning, cleaning • Because manual cleaning
high-ceilings, escalator cleaning, proved ineffective, a machine
cleaning light fixtures, washroom cleaning procedure was to be
cleaning, cafeteria/food court explored.
cleaning, etc. The correct machine needed to be
Problem statement: Frequent identified, especially for trapping
breakdown of escalators due to and removing minute dust particles.
ineffective cleaning process
Impact of problem: Created Corrective actions
dissatisfactions and inconvenience • The escalator cleaning machine
for the customers. A broken-down was purchased to clean
escalator can also create a negative escalators.
perception of the mall’s services. • The vacuum cleaner for
escalators has a wet and dry
Root cause analysis mode vacuum wand attachment.
• There was no possibility of • One escalator had a daily
overload causing the escalators cleaning frequency at first with
to trip the machine, one at a time. After CIJ

MAY 2023•Clean India Journal
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