PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Attempting to define a standard of cleanliness or decide how clean is clean, is difficult, as we are dealing with an intangible product & one which is subject to varying interpretations from one person to another & this easily leads to misinterpretation & misunderstanding.
Performance standards are the specific outcomes after a specific task/job has to be accomplished e.g. when this bath has been cleaned it must have.
- no grease line
- no hairs in plug hole
- no water spots on tap
- no traces of cleaning agent
- a dry internal surface
- shiny taps
- plug chain hung over the tap
- new sop in soap tray
- Clean bathmat over the side
- But it seems unnecessary to put them into pen & paper its essential that it be communicated during the training process to the persons undertaking this task. Standard Operating procedures (Standard Operating Procedures) are helpful in having better performances standards.
These are written instruments that set forth specific recessing actions. They are devices by which procedures are standardized and are basis for ready reference as to how to accomplish specific tasks.
A good quality and quantity of work can be met through proper direction in terms of
- Proper SOP’s ( Well studied and evaluated)
- Training
- Supervision
Productivity standards are achieved when:
- Cleaning methods are correctly selected and systematically followed.
- The ideal cleaning agents are used on the various surfaces involved.
- The correct pieces of equipment are used on the various surfaces involved.
- Cleaning tasks are carried out at required frequencies.
- All the employees carry out their cleaning tasks in a consistent manner.
- Time and motion studies are periodically carried out in the department to obtain best practices in housekeeping.
PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS
Productivity can be defined as the ration between input or output or more explicitly ration below the amount produced and the amount of any resources used in the course of production. Management has to be concerned with productivity in operations where labor cost constitute a huge proportion of the budget, which are labor intensive where over increasing financial constraints are imposed or where competition from outside agencies is a threat such as possibility of introducing contract labor to replace directly employed labor where management are concerned with productivity, emphasis must be place on seeking ways to improve output either by increasing the amount of work performed for the reduced cost.
Work cost awareness may well be sufficient to spur action to increasing productivity or reducing costs.
Output of work in standard minute’s / input of labor time or machine time in clock minutes.
In hotels these costs may be viewed in relation to volume of sales achieved or amount of revenue produced. When evaluating productivity it is also useful to consider those issues which influence or are influenced by the level of productivity or performance. These issues include labor turnover, absenteeism, lateness and staff complaints with regard to inefficient procedures. Indispensable factors to reach good levels of productivity apart from the influence of dept. heads are appropriate investments in the design, machines of equipments.
Productivity standards are achieved when:
- The type and age of the property.
- The type of surfaces involved and the degrees and type of soiling.
- The accessibility of the work area from the service areas.
- The frequency of cleaning.
- The amount of traffic in the work areas.
- The type of cleaning supplies and equipment available.
- The function of the work area.
- The quality of supervision and inspection.
- The expected standards of cleaning.
- The quality of employees.
Example of productive standard worksheet:
Total Shift Time = 9 hrs X 60 mins = 540 mins.
Beginning of Morning Shift = 20 mins
Tea Break = 10 mins
Lunch = 30 mins
Evening Tea Break = 10 mins
End of Morning Shift = 20 mins (handover)
Therefore, the room attendant is there for 450 mins in guest room (540-90) and each room takes 30 mins to clean. Therefore, the attendant can clean 15 rooms in 450 mins.