Many of us are happy that 2021 is behind us. But what awaits us is unknown.
In this three-part series, industry leaders shared their concerns for the industry, advice for operators, and their COVID experiences.
Today is part 3 of Looking Ahead – 2022. See part 1 here and part 2 here.
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Paul Rocha
Sales Manager – HCS Business Unit
Professional – NAN Region
Miele Professional USA
What are your concerns for the industry?
Fortunately, some expect the commercial laundry equipment business to see modest growth in 2022, especially the specialty application niche business. That being said, I expect the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to continue to impose daily challenges and restrictions around the world, causing disruptions in import and export activities. The health of the workers involved, directly or indirectly, will also likely have an impact on the industry.
What advice do you have for operators at the start of the year?
COVID-19 can affect the global economy in three main ways: by directly affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disruption, and by its financial impact on businesses and financial markets. It is important to know what solutions your product can offer and to focus your efforts on the business channels that require specific solutions. Now more than ever, you need to think strategically about the future of your business and how you can help customers adapt to increased and continued attention to hygiene and disinfection. In this new normal, manufacturers and distributors will need to offer the best protection for their customers’ laundry and laundry.
How did you overcome the COVID challenges?
By being mindful of the challenges of the aforementioned issues that the pandemic has brought to the market. We must continue to adapt to changing needs and deliver solutions that help our customers grow their businesses with less disruption. Miele Professional laundry equipment and products offer solutions for almost any application, especially where hygiene issues are at the forefront. The highest hygiene standards will continue to be a driving force that guides us, as we help our customers meet the unique challenges of today and tomorrow.
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Craig Lloyd
President
LaundryCareers.com
What are the industry concerns?
The staffing shortage of non-exempt production associates will not be resolved any time soon. A random survey of operators from Columbia MO to New Orleans to Chicago and beyond hires for floor sorting positions from $14.50 per hour to $17 per hour (Bozeman MT ).
The consensus indicates that higher salaries do not significantly increase the supply of candidates or the retention rate. The final cost appears with additional production hours to add an additional second partial shift and/or an additional day (eg Saturday, Sunday). Examples include a Chicago health linen factory that operates the plant for the first time on Thanksgiving Day.
If operators choose not to add a production manager position to the org chart for opening/closing responsibilities, the plant manager’s work week is then extended by several additional hours and/or 6and daytime. Overworked factory managers may choose to seek employment with better working hours. In the worst case, knowledge, talent and experience in the field leave our industry.
The shortage of qualified trade mechanics for maintenance positions has our industry hitting the proverbial wall, with no solution in sight. Hourly wages in some factories have reached 30 something an hour, but positions simply remain vacant month after month. Similarly, the shortage of chief engineers/maintainers continued the trend of the past five years or so.
Many linen plant operators borrow the organization chart of uniform rental operators by having the plant manager oversee both production and maintenance departments, later elevating the title to operations manager or of director of operations. In this way, the maintenance department can be directed with a supervisor level employee.
What advice do you have for operators at the start of the year?
My advice for operators is to spend regular time “on the floor”, even if that means occasionally shaking leaves or any other hands-on production activity. Do what you can to self-educate on equipment issues, utility management, and safety SOPs.
One of my plant manager contacts with a regional linen operator in the Midwest mentioned that his vice president of operations, whose previous career was as general manager of uniform rental companies, goes from many days at the factory to subsequently learn the nuances of processing rental linen. as well as physical requirements.