Standard operating procedure (SOP) in linen management is critical for ensuring a continuous supply of clean linen to relevant departments while conforming to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
Of course, adopting SOP is no easy operative task because it requires people from different departments to work together to ensure that linen is delivered efficiently and on time.
Unfortunately, issues arise because managing SOP from a vast, complex premise can lead to errors, such as missing linen or high operating costs. Fortunately, we can work around this issue by investing in the right technology to streamline and optimise production processes.
Here’s what can cause inefficient SOP in linen management and how to streamline it to reduce operating costs and double productivity.
The common issues in the SOP in linen management
Linen sheets going missing is one of the common problems that plague linen rental facilities.
Moving linen through the various areas in a rental facility will see tons of linen shifting in a mechanical clockwork-like manner that doesn’t seem to end. However, it is not unusual for linen to go missing.
Unfortunately, it might not occur to linen managers that linen sheets have gone missing until it is too late.
As sophisticated as the SOP is, like using colour-coded bags to sort between dirty and clean linen, there is no system to pre-emptively detect and prevent linen from going missing.
It is particularly concerning because missing linen can lead to several problematic issues, including rising operating costs, damage to the facility’s reputation, and disruptions that can keep clients from performing their duties.
To prevent missing linen and management problems that follow, facilities need to consider adopting a more modern, tech-driven approach to managing linen.
The best way to overcome SOP issues: linen management software
Linen management software leverages the substantial processing abilities of RFID and BI software and pushes them towards resolving SOP issues linen rental facilities face, which include missing linen sheets.
Linen management software uses RFID technology to optimise linen tracking and management. The technology can track linen using RFID tags inside each sheet.
When linen bags pass through different rooms, the RFID tags are scanned, and the location is relayed to the BI software, which allows managers to trace the location of linen across the premise. Hence, managers and employees would never lose track of linen sheets.
Using the software can improve the SOP in linen management because it adds a layer of security to the process while streamlining it. Furthermore, it reduces the need for further checks, which helps streamline the process.
In the long run, this would reduce operating costs and improve productivity because rental facilities don’t have to spend much time and effort on rigorous checks to ensure they are not missing any linen sheets.
Improve and optimise linen management with efficient SOP
Having a fast, agile SOP in linen management is critical to delivering linen to customers in a timely manner. Investing in a line management system is one of the best ways to ensure this process remains optimised, efficient, and agile—the platform can integrate effortlessly into existing operations without significant disruption.
The software can turn linen counting and checking into a quantitative, data-driven process, making it easier to assess efficiency and productivity.
Hence, managers can make lasting improvements to the production process to permanently reduce operating costs and double productivity without making massive operational changes.
