Team Cleaning® is a systematic programme that focuses on cleaning duties by tasks rather than zones. In Team Cleaning, a worker becomes a specialist and is empowered to perform routine cleaning focused around one consistent set of tasks. The cleaning specialist is able to easily manage time, efficiency and productivity when supported by a Team Cleaning system – and the foundation of Team Cleaning allows for easy modifications relating to cost and/or quality.
Many organisations have come to the conclusion that Team Cleaning is the best cleaning system to absorb the most stringent demands for high performance cleaning that face our industry today. Each cleaning specialist knows exactly which duties to perform, where to go and how long to take, and has a comprehensive understanding of the cleaning standard.
More than teamwork
There is confusion in our industry that Team Cleaning is simply group or gang cleaning where several workers clean a facility together using teamwork as the basis. This perception is incorrect. In Team Cleaning, there are four concepts we focus on for efficiency and effectiveness: work simplification, work redistribution, work flow and worker self-direction. This all culminates in a viable system for training, performance expectancy, sustainability and continuous improvement.
The components of Team Cleaning are:
- Specialists
- Quadrant scheduling
- Backpack vacuuming technology
- Time-bound estimates
- Job assignment cards
- Built in quality management
- Ease of training
The following assigned duties are stated in general terms for this article. Management will need to determine the specific duties and prepare the cleaning specialists through in-depth training.
Specialists
There are four types of specialists in Team Cleaning:
- Starter (usually referred to as Light duty specialist – General Cleaning)
- Closer (usually referred to as Vacuum specialist)
- Restroom specialist
- Utility specialist
Starter/Light duty specialist (General Cleaning)
Duties:
- Remove surface dust
- Empty trash
- Spot cleanPick up obvious floor debris
This position starts the general cleaning process and continues in a complete loop through the entire shift without ever returning to the supply station. The extent of the cleaning duties is dependent upon the tools transported by this specialist. With the Closer following over the same route but about 15-20 minutes behind, the Starter has ways to communicate necessary changes (e.g. closing doors in spaces not needing vacuuming).
Closer/Vacuum specialist (in general cleaning route)
Duties:
- Vacuum
- Check for obvious cleaning deficiencies
- Perform a quality check on the Starter
This position follows the Starter and closes down the cleaning operation.
The Starter and Closer fulfill the general cleaning process which is 60-90% of the work depending on the type and the usage of the facility being cleaned.
Restroom specialist
Duties:
- Clean and sanitise restrooms
This specialist is assigned restrooms, locker rooms, hallway water fountains etc.
Utility specialist
Duties:
- Collect trash and remove from facility
- Lobby assignments
- Various floor-care responsibilities
- Distribute supplies
- Other tasks
This position is highly diversified based on the scope of work. There are different skill levels i.e. deep mopping/scrubbing, hazardous waste management, clean room cleaning etc. This specialist can be assigned some supervisory responsibilities in smaller facilities. There is a wide range of duties that can be assigned to this position depending on the facility and cleaning requirements.
Quadrant scheduling
The space assigned to the Starter and Closer is divided into four quadrants. Routine, detail and project-type frequency processes are then assigned. Utilising this concept, the system will result in 10,000-12,000sqft per hour for each specialist performing general cleaning at a Cleaning for Health™ standard. This results in a team average of 5,000-6,000sqft being cleaned per hour.
Routine cleaning is performed daily, detail cleaning is performed weekly and project cleaning is performed monthly. No two specialists work together except for teams performing cleaning set-ups, floor maintenance etc.
It is critical to establish a strict adherence to scheduled work. Routine/detail tasks are performed on a rotational basis, Monday through Thursday, with projects rotated over four Fridays. Each day, one of the quads is designated a detail cleaning while the three others are designated routine.
Care must be exercised in determining the quadrant layout. This will need to be modified until the flow is balanced. For example, it would not be efficient if the Vacuum specialist has to wait for the Starter to move out of an area.
Since there is a required gap between the Starter and Closer, the Closer may be assigned other duties that utilise time equal to the estimated gap time. The Closer then starts vacuuming in the first quadrant.
By simplifying the tasks and disciplining the specialists to stay on the Team Cleaning system, we can maximise productivity and improve quality. In today’s challenging economic environment, Team Cleaning allows us to intelligently and easily modify costs through cleaning frequency reduction.
Take the challenge
Every industry in the world has benefited from improved processes, out-of-the-box thinking, best practices development and employee involvement.
Team Cleaning is a tried-and-true practice that allows us to move beyond zone or the area assigned for cleaning. It significantly improves worker efficiency and productivity.
Take the Team Cleaning challenge: investigate, evaluate and test how task-based cleaning performs over zone cleaning. The results will speak for themselves.
Team Cleaning is a proven system that provides real results. Don’t let some other organisation make the move and outperform you! Give Team Cleaning a try and see for yourself why so many organisations have adopted it as the best system to meet their cleaning and budgetary needs.