Why cleaning innovations matter in the digital revolution

Today’s manufacturing sector is continuously developing new technologies and solutions to create more efficiency and productivity, with the cautious adoption of AI bringing both challenges and opportunities for the way manufacturing companies operate. When digital transformation and the increase of data analytics are thrown into the mix, improving customer satisfaction and product quality, the manufacturing industry is at an exciting point in its evolvement for the future.  

Smart manufacturing is defined as the new industrial revolution. It will provide many benefits for the sector, but it will also pose challenges. The obvious upside is the increase in efficiency and productivity as well as the enhanced and real-time ability to forecast with accuracy enabling companies to monitor movement and product usage and create policies that can save money. However, the issue for many small and medium-sized businesses is that the initial implementation costs are high and, in many cases, prohibitive.

A key factor in smart manufacturing is the development of cleaning equipment. Given that 9 out of 10 employees believe that using quality wiping and cleaning products boosts productivity and happiness at work¹ driving innovation in this area particularly important.

Investment in new equipment is a vital component of adapting to the technological revolution. When it comes to machine maintenance old techniques such as the use of cleaning rags from discarded cloth are being replaced by advanced products such as the Tork exelClean® cleaning cloths. These have been seen to reduce cleaning time by up to 35% and require up to 30% less effort to use². Movement data analytics can be used to inform companies where to place dispensers and cleaning resources in areas which maximise workforce efficiency. 

Results show that around 44% of workers report 20+ interruptions per shift to either get or dispose of cleaning products. On top of that 74% of operators agree that if dispensers are not placed in easily accessible locations, they will take more than they need so they don’t have to keep going back and forth. This is a prime example of where modern data analytics are useful for ensuring that dispensers are placed in the most convenient locations to mitigate interruptions and waste. Tork® has created the free Tork Motion Waste Calculator, an online tool to help companies measure the impact of poorly placed wiper dispensers in their facilities on workers’ daily movements and operations. By asking a number of questions, the tool calculates how much time employees waste every day returning to and from the dispenser and can inform the reduction of waste in line with sustainability goals. New sensor technology can accurately monitor the number of people visiting a facility and therefore allow companies to know what cleaning equipment is required again helping to reduce unnecessary waste. 

To conclude, while the initial costs of implementing the changes necessary to embrace the digital revolution may be difficult for small and medium-sized businesses, the long-term benefits are obvious. The adoption of new technologies such as innovative cleaning products and data analytics both serves to enhance workplace hygiene and safety and boost workplace efficiency and satisfaction. By embracing the power of data-driven decision-making and smart solutions, businesses can stand out in a competitive market and contribute to a more sustainable and efficient future.

References
1 021 Survey conducted by PRS Invivo in March 2021. The survey covered in the US and Germany, with 100 respondents in each market.
2  Panel test conducted by Swerea Research Institute (Sweden, 2014)   

For more information visit  www.tork.co.uk/reducewaste.