Layout and Activities of the Uniform Room

Equipment Used in Uniform Room

• Racks
• Mobile trolleys
• Ironing board with iron
• Hangers
• Work table
• Trolleys ( for transporting uniforms)
• Marking machine
• Telephone
• Pen & pencil
• Computer system
• Supervisors desk
• Shelves

 Space Allocation:

The thumb rule states that the space requirement for a linen & uniform room varies between 4 – 6 sq. ft. per person.

·        Provide for more area if there is no on premises laundry and if soil linen needs to be stored until it is transported to the laundry.

• ·        Linen storage areas with linen exchange counters.

• ·        Uniform storage area with Uniform Exchange Counter.

• ·        Soil Linen Collection Area.

• ·        Inspection Area

• ·        Supervisor’s desk area.

• ·        Sewing room.

• ·        Guest laundry area

People working in the area

• Uniform room attendant
• Tailor
• Seamstress
• Uniform room manager

Activities of Uniform Room

• Uniform selection
• Establishing par levels for uniform
• Uniform issue and exchange
• Collection of soiled uniform
• Counting and sorting of Uniforms
• Dispatch of soiled uniform to laundry
• Receipt of fresh linen from the laundry
• Sorting of fresh uniform
• Uniform storage
• Stitching, repairing of the uniform
• Stocktaking

Selection of uniform: terrycots are the most popular choice of uniforms as they have the advantages of both natural & synthetic fibres. Suiting materials are used for trousers and skirts. Drill is the popular choice for cook’s coats and aprons as it’s cool, durable and easy to maintain. Gabardine or any suiting material may be used for chef’s coat, as they keep up appearance.

Establishing Par level for uniforms: When deciding the number of sets of uniforms needed by staff, the following factors are to be considered:

• Uniform material: the life expectancy of a uniform is between 12 – 18 months and the material is chosen should last for expected lifespan.
• Nature of job: Some jobs in the hotel are stressful in nature. These jobs include the GRA’s, houseman etc. These workers may require a change of uniform more often.
• Frequency of laundering: depending on how often the uniforms are sent to the laundry and whether laundry is in-house or a contracted service would influence the number of sets required.

Issue of uniforms: In case of new employees, uniforms are issued against uniform issue slips received from the personnel department. The employee is required to sign for his/ her particular uniform. Then, the uniform is issued from the uniform room, where the name of the dept and items are entered in the registered and signature of employees is taken.

Collection of soiled uniforms: When employees exchange their soiled uniforms with a clean one, their soiled uniforms collected in the trolley.

Counting and sorting of uniforms: Soiled uniforms are counted for a number of sets and sorting is done on the basis of dept, designation and colour.

Dispatch of soiled uniforms to laundry: Once sorting has been done, uniforms are sent to the laundry.

Receipt of fresh uniform from laundry: when uniforms have been laundered, they are sent back to the uniform room for storage and reuse.

Sorting of fresh uniform: Sorting is done on the basis of dept, designation.

Uniform storage: Fresh uniforms received from laundry bt linen room are stored according to DEPARTMENT’s NAME, EMPLOYEES DESIGNATION & SERIAL NUMBER OR GARMENTS COLLAR.

Stocktaking: Stock taking is physical verification of all uniforms in the cycle at periodic intervals or when accounting books are closed at end of the year. Overages or shortages can be determined by variances in physical counts.

Principle of stock-taking:

• Segregate all group uniforms
• Count items physically every 3 months
• Count items in circulation and stores separately
• Stamp discards “Condemned” keep aside.
• Tally total counted with the last inventory figures plus new issues.
• Also Check : Advantages of providing uniforms to staff

UNIFORM ROOM EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

Ladders to reach the higher shelves of racks (same as in linen room)
Cupboards to store quality uniforms (same as in linen room)
Racks to store fresh heavy uniforms in circulation e.g. dungarees, cooks jackets and trousers, kitchen stewarding wear, etc.
Hampers to dump soiled uniforms (same as in linen room)
Plastic bags to pack uniforms when put in the uniform store
Table to fold fresh uniforms
(same as in linen room)
Mobile trolleys: to transport fresh uniforms hung on hangers
Hanging racks : to hang uniforms that cannot be folded and stored
Hangers: to hang uniforms
Coat brushes: to brush dust of coats