Manpower woes
Kamal Sargunaraj, Managing Director, Kodai Cleaners, Kodaikanal shares, “Another significant problem for commercial laundry owners is the shortage of skilled labour. Even though we have installed high tech washerextractors and dryers, a certain degree of human effort is required to complete the cleaning process”. Antony Wilfred, Managing Director, Pioneer Laundry, Hosur explains that non-recognition of the laundry sector as an industry is one of the reasons no skillset is developed in this sector. Expecting unskilled labour to use highly advanced processing methods is a challenge for everyone. “If those who do all the hard work are not paid more than what they can earn on their own, there will be a shortage of skilled labour,” said Hari Krishnan, CEO, Butlers Laundry, Chennai, hitting the nail on the head.
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If I use hot water, the water consumption may be halved, but I will have to invest much more than I already have.
-Anand
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Saying that in India, productivity is still a lesser known word, Venkat has many suggestions to offer: “A standard working method needs to be implemented. Pressing is a labour- intensive activity, which need to be addressed in a scientific manner. Time and motion studies and proper layouts will help in increasing productivity. Unwanted actions must be avoided.”
Stressing the need for ergonomic equipment, he continues: “Today, I see a disconnect between the management and workers, in which both sides misuse each other. This leads to high worker attrition. For example, a towelfolding person has to bend down at least 20 times to floor level in every trolley to get his last towel, which gives stress to the hip. An ergonomic trolley can solve this. This will indirectly increase worker satisfaction and increase productivity.”
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Srinivasan calls out the elephant in the room when he holds price-wars between laundry-owners responsible for cut-throat competition and shrinking returns
-Srinivasan
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Wash World currently processes around 4500 pieces a day, from tagging, washing and drying to ironing, checking and packing. From next year, it plans to introduce permanent tagging, which will reduce the manpower requirement by about 10 people.
Anand says that the average productivity rate in his facility is eight per person per hour, which can go up to 12. But once trained, many employees quit and he has to start again with freshers, bringing productivity back down. One of the reasons why the industry is unable to attract talent is the distaste of the common man towards handling soiled linen; an institution that streamlines training and makes the profession respectable is the need of the hour. The TNILDA is planning to set up a training platform to bring transgenders and women as a supportive workforce to the laundry industry.
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Even though we have installed high tech washer-extractors and dryers, a certain degree of human effort is required to complete the cleaning process.
-Kamal Sargunaraj
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Technology
Many laundry owners are other. This leads to high worker attrition. For example, a towelfolding person has to bend down at least 20 times to floor level in every trolley to get his last towel, which gives stress to the hip. An ergonomic trolley can solve this. This will indirectly increase worker satisfaction and increase eight per person per hour, which can go up to 12. But once trained, many employees quit and he has to start again with freshers, bringing productivity back down. One of the reasons why the industry is unable to attract talent is the distaste of the common man towards handling soiled linen; introducing technology to reduce their dependence on manpower. However, this is an expensive proposition, and the costs cannot be passed on to customers, who do not want to pay more.
B2B laundries in particular need highly mechanised and automated large volume processing to be profitable. Unfortunately, this needs very high investments too. Wilfred advises that it is better to optimise operations with the current technology instead.
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Non-recognition of the laundry sector as an industry is one of the reasons no skillset is developed in this sector.
-Antony Wilfred
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Some feel that having laundries certified according to pre-decided standards will get them to be taken more seriously by clients, who will then be more willing to open their purse-strings for what they will realise is a scientific, complex service.
