A best practice is defined as a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means. Because it is an improved way to do something, it becomes a benchmark, or the measuring stick that serves as a standard by which other practices may be measured or evaluated. Best practices can also be adjustable, flexible processes that can evolve as improvements are made or even more effective ways of doing something are revealed. Finally, best practices are used to assure a certain level of quality without mandatory legislated standards. At Stathakis, janitorial best practices are very important to us. Not only are they good for you the customer, they are good for us too. So what are janitorial best practices and why are they so important?
Before we examine why they are so significant, let’s look at what a best practice is as it relates to commercial cleaning services. Janitorial best practices encompass a variety of practices and processes that help assure professional, effective and responsive service. What critical pieces of commercial cleaning services stand out as vital in commercial cleaning best practices?
There is no single component of janitorial services that is more important than the people on the front lines cleaning and maintaining your facility. People and the processes surrounding them are central to any service business. Best practices require that professional janitorial services companies use clear, systemized processes for all elements of their people processes. That means they thoroughly interview would be candidates. It means they check references, verify past employment and ask the right questions to try to find those people who are a really great fit for the work. It means that criminal background checks and drug screening are conducted on every single potential employee every single time. It means a janitorial company must offer solid training giving their employees the best opportunity to be successful on the job and deliver results to you the customer. It means creating a culture that values employees and both manages and inspires them to excellence.
After people and people processes, transparent pricing is second in importance under the umbrella of janitorial best practices. Clear pricing necessitates that you know exactly WHAT you are purchasing and you know precisely WHAT it is costing you. That means no fuzzy pricing, no vague work orders and no hidden charges. Clear, transparent pricing allows you to compare competing bids side to side in order to choose the best value for your facility. Similarly, it gives you the opportunity to hold your janitorial company accountable to the work they have committed to.
Of course any remotely professional janitorial company wants to make their customers happy and satisfied, but not every company backs that intention up with the systems and processes to really see it through. The best Detroit janitorial company assures reliability through accountability. That means site visits and thorough, clear janitorial bids. That means backing an intention of effective, responsive service with things like janitorial inspections and formal communications to make sure everyone is on the same page. It means systematic training of employees on cleaning basics and more, including training specific to the needs of your industry and your facility. It means utilizing systemized communications to assure that when something goes off track, it is resolved quickly with little interruption.
Nothing is more critical to a healthy work place and overall image of your organization than the health and safety within your facility. Any solid janitorial company makes the healthy and safety of your building’s occupants and their staff a priority. This is evident in their training and knowledge of Cleaning For Health, Smart Cleaning as well as understanding the Science of Cleaning. It means they utilize methods of cleaning that protect the health and of your building occupants like safe chemical storage, low decibel vacuums and more. It means they have a real commitment to environmental stewardship and green cleaning products, equipment and methods that are good for you, your facility and its occupants and the planet.
Industry certifications like as ISO 9000, ISO 14001, and CIMS offer powerful tools in assessing and assuring your prospective commercial cleaning company or Detroit janitorial company is poised to deliver on their promises to you. Best practices are an element of nearly all accredited management standards because they know that hitting the benchmarks of janitorial best practices directly correlates with effective, responsive janitorial services. The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), who developed CIMS, created a benchmark to meet and measure against for those janitorial services companies and commercial cleaning companies that wished to adopt, implement and drive industry best practices. The management standard lays out five components critical to quality service delivery and these are: Systems, Service Delivery, Human Resources, Health, Safety & Environmental Stewardship, and Management Commitment. If a prospective janitorial services company has secured CIMS certification, they have demonstrated verifiable processes and competencies in these areas.
CIMS not only helps qualifyjanitorial services, it is a free tool for you Facility Managers to use. CIMS certification recognizes those commercial cleaning companies not just dipping their toe in the pool of janitorial best practices but diving fully in. In fact, because janitorial companies seek out CIMS voluntarily, it is a powerful indication of their overall professionalism, leadership and commitment to their customers. As qualifying tool, CIMS is useful to you as a Facility Manager to further shorten your ‘short list’ of building services contractors down to those adhering to proven standards and industry best practices. The sum effect is that you can assure a better fit while reducing the time and money you spend looking for the right janitorial contractor limiting RFPs, Request For Proposal, to companies that have already passed the first set of hurdles. While janitorial companies pay for the process of certification, this powerful, helpful information is available to you for free.
Here at Stathakis, we have spent over thirty years developing a standard of service and working hard to achieve and maintain CIMS certification. We have worked hard to create lasting relationships with our customers and offer the businesses of southeastern Michigan the service they deserve by adhering to and even developing janitorial best practices.
If you are a Facility Manager in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Dearborn, Livonia, Troy, Auburn Hills, Novi, Plymouth, Downriver or surrounding areas and you are looking for commercial cleaning services, office cleaning, school cleaning, industrial cleaning, medical cleaning or other building services, please contact us to learn more about how we can assure you get the service you and your facility require.