Evolving JanSan: Sophistication Is The Beginning Experts address leading issues with insight. By: Richard DiPaolo, Senior editor I In 2009, successful in-house service providers (ISPs) and building service contractors (BSCs) were mindful of sustainability. These professionals also continued to monitor science in cleaning, the possibility of a pandemic, the continued evolution of industry training and certification programs and a sluggish economy, while focusing on traditional issues, such as employee concerns, cost of insurance, the com-petition, productivity and so on. For many, 2009 was a demanding year and not a time to rest on past successes. This is a more sophisticated industry compared to a decade ago and, for various reasons, facility owners and managers are demanding informa-tion about cleaning performance, costs and proof beyond visual results. We reached out to industry veterans who are active in the JanSan community to address sev-eral of these issues with skilled insight. departments,” says Dave Frank, president of the American Institute for Cleaning Sciences (AICS). “And because of its scale — the cleaning depart-ment is [often] three to four times the size of the next largest department — it naturally hit peopleʼs radar screen.” Survival mode, also known as doing more with less, something that most facilities have become accustomed to in recent years, will not only remain as norm, but more focus and pressure on the cleaning and maintenance departments will also continue. In fact, says Jim Harris, Sr., who is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Concepts4 Cleaning Consultants, budgets, costs, productivity and “basically anything related to economics and doing more with less will be the arena service providers will be living in for the foreseeable future.” Issue One: The Economy’s Impact Some say the countryʼs financial woes are near-ing an end, including several government offi-cials. However, if true, experts say it does not neces-sarily indicate that cleaning will return to under-the-radar status, budgets will increase and addi-tional staff will be hired. “Some parts of the country are seeing some improvement, but overall, any major improvement comes from people adjusting and getting [familiar with] doing business a different way,” notes William R. Griffin, president of Cleaning Consultant Services Inc. And, end users shouldnʼt be surprised or caught off guard. But, it is important to know why change was looming and needed. “[Cleaning] was a department that was highly unsophisticated and lacked documentation, struc-ture and [similar] business characteristics of other for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Trends . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Trade Associations . Cleaners are expected to use advanced product technology and, in the foreseeable future, science as well. 14 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • October 2009 Photo courtesy of ProTeam
CMM – Archives Oct 2009: 14
