RIPON, Wis. — Technology plays a significant role in not only running today’s on-premises laundry (OPL) operation, but also keeping machine downtime, labor and utility costs as low as possible.
OPL managers aim to run their operations at peak efficiency, and with the right equipment, technology and distributor support, this goal is more than manageable. Here’s what you need to know.
LEAN ON YOUR DISTRIBUTOR FOR SUPPORT
There is a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing that when a problem is too complex for OPL managers to fix on their own, they can turn to their distributor for support. Equipment distributors should have staff that has been trained by their equipment manufacturers to be certified to provide advice, service customers’ machines and have the expertise needed to fix any problem that may arise.
“When a machine needs service, we will receive the same alert on our computer that an OPL manager will get,” says Ralph Daniels, president of Daniels Equipment Co. “If they don’t see it or don’t respond to it, we will call them and ensure they have what they need to fix the problem.”
The best distributors utilize machine technology to help their customers address problems more quickly than they could on their own. Daniels Equipment Co. receives quarterly reports for each of its customers’ individual machines; distributor representatives then analyze how equipment is working and review with their customers to determine where they can save money and cut down on labor costs.
WHEN A SERVICE CALL IS UNAVOIDABLE
A member of the maintenance staff at an OPL property can often work with a servicing distributor to help diagnose a problem before a service call has to be made. This can sometimes prevent needing the distributor to physically come out to the site, or identify the part or service needed so a repair is done in a single trip. When a service technician does have to be called, he/she can save an OPL manager time and money by testing items remotely or at the controls to quickly diagnose and repair.
“Modern technology has given OPL managers the ability to export location and machine information to a service technician who can then review and assist remotely,” says Brad Reichenbach, regional field service manager for UniMac. “This has become much more common as of late and reduces machine downtime significantly.”
To simplify the job of the servicing technician and reduce costs for the OPL manager, service history can be entered into a machine’s controls so that a technician has instant access. While a comprehensive look at a machine’s entire service history may be stored on a manager’s computer, error alerts are stored directly on the machine so that a service technician can quickly and easily access them.
“Machine error history is another invaluable feature used to diagnose equipment and operator issues without having to communicate with the laundry room operator, who may be off-shift at the time, or decipher notes from staff,” explains Reichenbach.
CONSIDER REPLACING EQUIPMENT
If maintenance becomes too frequent, consider replacing your equipment for optimal performance. With the right equipment and advanced technology, OPL management does not have to be a daunting task. With a vision and actionable data, you can ensure your laundry operation is running at peak performance. The idea is to have a laundry operation with equipment that can run as independently as possible, which can cut down on labor costs.
Properly working equipment is the foundation of a successful and efficient OPL operation; if your equipment breaks down frequently, or you spend more time trying to fix it than the machine does washing linens, consider replacing your machines with advanced controls and technology.
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