A clean manufacturing facility is crucial for businesses. It safeguards the well-being and health of workers. It also boosts productivity, as a clean environment encourages people to be more productive. Of course, as the business owner, you need to keep the working environment clean and organized for all workers. (Image Credit: Science in HD/Unsplash)
Here are eight suggestions to improve the overall cleanliness of your facility:
1. Adhere to Periodic Equipment Maintenance and Cleaning Schedules
Processing plants and factories are home to a lot of vital equipment. Keeping the machinery running safely and optimally requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Never assume that your cleaning staff will automatically take care of the factory equipment. Instead, come up with a schedule for your maintenance personnel, ensuring they include tasks like implementing a tank cleaning system to maintain the efficiency and hygiene of essential equipment.
Here’s an example: if you have a compressed air system that’s part of your daily operations, you’ll need to get your staff to maintain that regularly. This typically involves cleaning the air compressor filters and dryers, wiping the debris and dust from the surfaces, and inspecting the components for problems.
2. Develop a Culture of Clean in Your Facility
Start a dialogue with the executives on how they can promote a culture of safety and sanitation in the processing facility. A few initiatives that you could put forward are the following:
- Communicating the importance of a clean workplace to workers
- Maintaining a customer-centric focus for all cleaning tasks
- Creating a team devoted to safety and cleanliness
- Gauging and reassessing the cleanliness culture in the facility
3. Promote Personal Cleanliness in the Workplace
All employees, regardless of position or ranking, should value personal cleanliness while working inside the production facility. Encourage your staff to follow excellent cleanliness behaviors, such as the following:
- Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) on designated workstations
- Preventing workers with communicable ailments from sensitive areas, such as food processing sections
- Washing hands for at least 20 seconds before handling any product or raw material
4. Assess Your Facility and Equipment Design
Perform an inspection of your manufacturing facility to identify the spaces and machinery that are difficult to clean effectively. A hygienically designed facility should have the following characteristics:
- Hygienic zones strategically established in the plant
- Processing equipment accessible for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance
- Regulated humidity and temperature throughout the facility
- Machines are free of recesses and areas that could accumulate liquid and other products
- Building elements that help improve sanitary conditions
Adjust the design of your facility to make the workplace more hygienic. When you improve your facility’s sanitary design, you make cleaning and sanitation faster and less costly for the business.
5. Invest in the Right Facility Cleaning Equipment
Getting the right cleaning tools and equipment for your facility will enable employees to perform their cleaning duties efficiently and effectively. Equip each worker with basic tools that allow them to complete their regular cleaning routine. Examples include paper towels, brush, and access to clean cloths. They’re more likely to clean up any dust and spills when they have the proper cleaning equipment.
Apart from providing cleaning tools for employees, add recycling and waste bins near workstations. This encourages workers to throw away the garbage as it appears instead of letting it accumulate on the stations. Also, set up a garbage collection schedule to prevent the bins from overflowing.
6. Schedule Deep Cleaning
Don’t just settle for regular cleaning. Perform a deep cleaning of your production plant to effectively remove the grime and dust on every surface and piece of equipment.
When scheduling deep cleaning, do this task during slow periods or outside production hours. You have the option to hire professional cleaners or train a few of your staff to get this done for you.
7. Create Color Coding Rules
Introducing color-coded containers and tools help minimize cross-contamination problems. Firstly, using your facility map, split the processing areas into zones. Then, assign a specific color for each zone.
When designing the coding rules, keep the number of colors as low as possible. Indeed, too many colors could make the system confusing for your workers. Three to four colors should be enough.
8. Keep the Floors Clean and Clear
Clutter, oil, and grime don’t just make the floors look filthy. They’re also a safety hazard. Slips, trips, and falls cause thousands of preventable injuries every year. Keep your production floors clean by eliminating the clutter and spilled liquids that can cause accidents. In addition, look for a floor cleaning strategy that works for your facility.
Implement these measures to improve cleanliness and safety in your manufacturing facility. Your workers will surely appreciate working in your plant if you’re taking steps to keep it clean, sanitary, and organized.
