Effectiveness stands for the ability to reach an established objective whereas efficiency evaluates the ability to do it using the fewest resources possible
Efficiency and effectiveness constitute two very important concepts within the work field and, in general, in the planning and control of any activity. To make a practical example: you can reach Florence leaving Milan by car, bus or train. All the three vehicles are effective because we are definitely going to reach the destination; however, each vehicle presents different efficiencies.
The ability to generate profits with complex business models like industrial laundries is strictly connected to its efficiency per time unit, i.e. the ability to carry out operations as fast as possible using the fewest resources possible in terms of either physical efforts or energy. Industrial laundries are an interacting nexus of technology, man/machine interaction and business visions.
Otherwise the company risks suffocating under the depreciation of assets , a common characteristic of manufacturing businesses, and high labor costs, typical of businesses providing services.
Every second counts for an industrial process. Kannegiesser has been following this philosophy, that is specifically reflected by the industrial sector the company operates in.
Considering linen washing, whatever the linen types, we deal with an active time of a process during which linen is treated by a combination of mechanical, chemical and temperature action. Still, we need to consider the existing downtime of emptying, loading and heating operations, as well as the downtime relating to batches transfer for further processing stages. The reduction of that “dead time” in a factory contributes to making the plant more efficient and productive, using the same amount of time and obtaining the same quality results.
Saving 12 seconds of downtime in case of the PowerTrans VARIO tunnel washer with separate chambers will transform into 201 hours of additional washing per year or to 300.000 kg of processed linen per year, in addition to the usual production.
“Kannegiesser, reducing downtime
while increasing productivity”
The same concept can be applied to flatwork finishing where the downtime affects the operative results in a particularly negative way: let us consider the many times operators wait for the available machine clamps while holding the linen articles in their hands. The waiting time, already a performance waste as such, is made worse by the weight of the linen articles that will negatively affect the operator’s physical wellbeing. The intermediate buffer of the modern Kannegiesser EMR Synchro Remote feeder, developed to make the introduction of large pieces easier through an innovative loading system, allows a smooth, nonstop operation even when work conditions change: the lack of linen, full spreading clamps, temporary absence from the work station, changes in the ironer speed, program changes, etc. The result translates to saving about 3.6 seconds per double-bed sheet and 5 seconds per duvet cover that stands for a 30% increase in hourly productivity in case of bed sheets and a 20% rise in case of duvet covers with the same number of operators.
“Kannegiesser reaches the efficiency also
through the perfect man/machine synergy”
The EMR Synchro Remote workstations have been designed around the operators and their needs: adjustable height with adequate view of surrounding areas and lightness, low noise level and easy recognition of information. Because real efficiency means creating perfect synergy between man and machine with the man at the center of the process.
We should not forget about the organizational and cognitive aspects: let us consider, for instance, the perception of stimuli and the man/machine interaction, that is the operators’ ability to interact with the surrounding environment, for example the push buttons for customer changes and rejected articles, information about batch traceability and figures relating to operational management during the production phase.
For this reason, apart from the technical development of the EMR Synchro feeder, it was crucial to work on the simplicity of the synoptic control panel “X6”. It can interface with any local network and provide information relative to key production indicators per operator and of the whole line.
Logistics is also an integral part of an industrial process and it influences its results.
Operators must be put in a position to always have material to “process”, that is, linen in the right place at the right time. The information flow referring to the batch in process follows the entire workflow in parallel to guarantee a complete traceability of the batch and its identification at any time and place.
Kannegiesser can provide all the necessary know-how to optimize laundry processes through smart machines, towel folding automated robots, computer software with a self-learning function, centralized systems for the reuse of waste water, scanning devices for damaged/soiled linen, linen separators, feeders, ironers, folding machines, linen storage and transfer systems. We are an ideal partner to accelerate industrial laundry processes and increase the profits by reducing the downtime because “every second counts”. •
Kannegiesser Italia
Via del Lavoro, 14 – 20073 Opera Mi (Italy)
Tel.: + 39 02 5760 6000 Fax: +39 02 57 60 49 33
info@kannegiesser.it – www.kannegiesser.com
edited by Marzio Nava
Detergo Magazine May 2021
