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How UMN Empowers Student Employees to Do QC Inspections Across Campus (and What to Expect When You Manage Students)

The Office of Classroom at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus is focused on one thing: Making sure classrooms and informal learning spaces are ready for learning. They want everything to be all set when students and faculty come in: markers ready to write on the cleared-off whiteboard, presentation equipment working smoothly, no flickering lights or strange noises to distract students. Because just one problem can distract students or force the instructor to stop Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago
Neat rows of chairs in a clean classroom.

How UMN Trains Students to Do Inspections

The University of Minnesota’s Office of Classroom Management employs dozens of student employees to help maintain learning spaces across campus. (Check out our articles on How the UMN Office of Classroom Management Skyrocketed Classroom Readiness from 41% to 95% and How UMN Empowers Student Employees to Do QC Inspections Across Campus for the full story.) This is the final piece in our series on the OCM’s success story, and we’re going to drill deep into Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

The Most Important Metrics and Trends to Watch + Downloadable Checklist

Collecting great data is only the first step. Next, you need to use it. Too many teams do regular inspections, and then just let the data . . . sit. Or maybe they look at one metric without probing deeper to get the right insights. But when you know how to look at the data correctly, you’ll always have a pulse on quality levels within your facilities. What metrics should I be looking at? First, Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago
A graphical rendering of the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of the CDC.

Common Questions and Coronavirus Resources for Cleaning Teams

Cleaning teams are on the front lines of helping confront the novel coronavirus pandemic. As the situation changes quickly, it’s not always clear where to find the right information. Here are a few questions we’ve heard within the janitorial community recently, as well as resources to help you find more information. What cleaning products can I use against the coronavirus? The CDC has compiled a list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2. A few tips Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

Inspecting the Inspector: How to Get Consistent Scores from Your QC Team

One inspector goes through an office and rates the carpets as a 3. Another comes through and gives them a 4. That might not seem like a big problem — but it is. It means you can’t trust that your data is telling the truth about your quality. Quality control data is only as good as your inspections, and consistent data is key to seeing the real trends going on in your facilities. The data you Read more…

By Gina Meeks, ago

What’s the Best Way to Use Pictures in Janitorial Inspections?

It’s amazing what photos can do for janitorial and facilities inspections. There’s just no better way to capture the conditions on-site, get examples to share with your team, and ensure that problems have been fixed. Plus, they’re fast! On the flip side, not every inspection needs a photo. Knowing when to include photos, what to capture, and how to organize that data will help your team communicate quickly and effectively. Why include photos with an Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

Mark Heller Sees Healthcare Changing. Here’s How Facilities Teams Can Keep Up.

Mark Heller is the president of Hygiene Performance Solutions, a consulting and coaching firm. He works with hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other organizations to help them improve their cleaning and disinfecting processes. His experience as a healthcare executive — and advising other organizations — gives him incredible insight into the forces affecting healthcare housekeeping and environmental services teams today. We talked with Mark to hear his thoughts on why healthcare cleaning is unique, how to Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

Kathy Patton Has a Mission to Help Others — And an Incredible Strategy for Introducing New Software

Kathy Patton has a unique job in the custodial industry: she’s the Business Development Coordinator for the Contract Services Division of Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc. (That’s right, Goodwill offers custodial services — more on that in a minute.) Kathy’s prior experience in the technology industry, along with the special population she works with, make her an amazing source of insight for introducing new technology to custodial employees. We talked to Kathy to learn how she Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

Live from the Floor at ISSA Show 2019

ISSA Show North America 2019 is heating up in Las Vegas — even though Day 2 is kicking off with a rare rainstorm. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by Booth 574 to say hi! One of the best parts of ISSA is all of the education and expertise being shared. Yesterday, we had the chance to sit on on a talk by Pam Washington, the CEO of Build My Cleaning Business. She shared some Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago
Improvement graph on paper

How to Set Quality Control Goals for Your Team

We talk a good deal about quality control in the janitorial business, but we’ve found that many teams skip past a key step: setting goals. We’re going to dive into the why and how of setting goals for your janitorial team to improve your business. Why create janitorial quality control goals? Creating a quality control process is key to establishing a continuous improvement cycle. Goals help you deliver consistent quality and quantified feedback to employees, Read more…

By Gina Meeks, ago