Page 42 - CIJ May 2024 Digital Edition

FACILITY MANAGEMENT

Changing Dynamics with

Cleaning Automation

The traditional methods of cleaning are fast
transforming with increased automation,
leading to changes in how cleaning tasks
are performed, managed, and perceived.
These changes impact efficiency, cost-
effectiveness, labour deployment, and
overall cleanliness standards. Additionally,
it also impacts changes in the roles and
responsibilities of cleaning personnel as
automation takes over routine tasks, allowing them to
focus on more complex or specialised cleaning activities.

Looking at it from the facility maintenance point of view, Wilson Selvaraj,
Country Director-Industry & Manufacturing Segment, ISS Facility Services
India Private Limited, elaborates the differentiating factors and the challenges
that comes with cleaning automation.

ver the last two • Large floor areas: Facilities washroom, consumption
years, cleaning like retail centres, airports, of liquid soap, toilet paper,
automation has warehouses railway stations and water and cleaning chemicals
made inroads large offices have huge floor have led to the restroom now
Ointo many newer space that needs to be cleaned being converted to a ’smart
segments and increased usage in frequently. Eliminating cleaning washroom’.
some of the existing segments. time and labour expenses, • Window cleaning: Cleaning
Defence, airports, manufacturing autonomous floor cleaning
units, hospitality, healthcare, equipment can effectively clean windows may be a dangerous
gated communities and others are expansive areas. and time-consuming task,
prominent examples. • Smart washrooms: It is particularly for high rise
Some of the major areas that require important to keep restrooms structures. Robotic window
cleaners can securely and
cleaning automation, says Wilson, in tidy. Toilet bowl cleaners efficiently clean windows by
general includes the following: and dispensers that operate navigating the exteriors of
• High traffic areas: Facilities automatically can guarantee buildings.
with high foot fall often have constant sanitation and lower
sections like entrances, lobbies, the chance of germ transfer. We • Smart trash bins: Trash
corridors and restrooms that automate the washrooms for collection can be automated
are constantly worn down. our clients. Sensors monitoring by using smart bins that have
Automated vacuum cleaners odour, liquid soap levels, and sensors to indicate when they
and floor scrubbers can replenishment of toilet rolls are full, which will maximise
carry out cleaning rounds all raise alerts at the appropriate waste disposal and enhance
day long, keeping the area time for FMs to act. Technology cleanliness. Smart trash
looking neat and professional. has reduced the number of management ensures automatic
Places like malls, airports and visits to the washroom by segregation of waste into the
healthcare centres need frequent the janitor. Insights on how respective bins without manual
attention. many people have used the intervention.

MAY 2024•Clean India Journal
42 www.cleanindiajournal.com