How to increase efficiency in your manufacturing business with Tork Workflow
You know better than anyone that in any fast-moving manufacturing business, staying efficient isn't just a goal, it's necessary to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. But with the challenges that come with the job, that’s easier said than done. The good news is you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. With Tork Workflow™ by your side, a safer, more efficient facility for you and your employees is possible in ways you may have not considered before.
What is Tork Workflow?
Tork Workflow™ is a free service in which one of our Tork experts reviews your company's wiping and cleaning practices. This assessment considers four priority areas:
- Waste
- Productivity
- Environment, health, and safety
- Employee and customer satisfaction
In a nutshell, our experts spend an hour learning about your facility and how your teams work. With this information, they’ll provide you with a set of personalized recommendations to help you save time and money, making your operations run more efficiently.
This overview is tailored to your facility as well as your business goals and includes the benefits of using specialized products like Tork cleaning cloths, Tork wiping paper, and Tork Performance® dispensers.
Efficiency challenges in manufacturing handled by our experts
Although every manufacturing facility is unique, many businesses face similar constraints that can impact productivity and overall performance. We’ve identified some common pain points that you might be facing too:
Process disruptions
If essential supplies like wiping paper and cleaning cloths aren’t within easy reach, your employees may need to step away from their stations. While this might seem like a minor interruption at first, the time spent walking back and forth can quickly accumulate in your facility throughout the day.
This motion waste from getting and disposing of cleaning products can add up to more than you might think. In fact, 44% of workers report more than 20 interruptions per shift to get or dispose of cleaning products. [1] We’ve also found that when the placement of wipers isn’t optimized, it can lead not only to unnecessary movement but also additional stress for employees. [2]
Compromised hygiene standards
Without the right systems in place, upholding hygiene standards across shifts and teams can be challenging. The issue with inconsistent hygiene practices is that they affect your employee wellbeing and productivity by increasing the risk of illness, which can lead to more time off work. They can also raise concerns during health inspections. This is especially true in regulated manufacturing environments like food and beverage sites, where meeting strict hygiene standards consistently is crucial to ensure product safety.
Wasted staff time
In many cases, manufacturing employees do their jobs using rags. The issue with relying on that kind of product instead of purpose-designed wipers is that they can waste valuable staff time. Because rags are inconsistent in quality and tend to need frequent replacement, cleaning tasks take longer and become less efficient. Over time, this can slow down workflows and reduce overall productivity across your business.
Solving these problems and increasing efficiency with Tork Workflow
The Workflow report you receive from our Tork experts is based on an in-depth evaluation of your facility's wiping and cleaning practices. It offers recommendations on how to reach your targets, boost workplace efficiency, and cut costs. Let's break down some of the guidance you could get:
Tailor-made product recommendations
We provide suggestions based on your business's specific needs. You can even get a free product trial so you can see for yourself the benefits of using Tork wiping and cleaning solutions. Our proposal might include:
Wipers and cleaning cloths
As we mentioned, rags can be inconsistent, wasteful, and even unsafe. By contrast, Tork purpose-made cleaning cloths and wiping papers are designed to clean more effectively, reduce solvent use, and cut down on waste and effort.
Our results speak for themselves. Studies have shown that customers who use Tork cleaning cloths can experience up to 35% less cleaning time* and up to 31% less worker effort.** Simply put, by switching to Tork wiping and cleaning solutions, you could save time and create a more efficient workplace.
Strategic product placement suggestions
Your custom Tork Workflow report helps you to identify the best locations for cloths and wipers, ensuring they're always within reach. This makes basic wiping and cleaning practices easier, meaning your teams can access cleaning tools quickly and get back to work without disruptions.
To gain a quick understanding of how much product placement really impacts your operators’ daily work, why not try our motion waste calculator?
Tork Workflow in practice
Let's explore how Tork Workflow can create real-life results for your business with an example from Leoni, a market-listed group of companies with nearly 95,000 employees in 32 countries.
Leoni’s results with Tork Workflow
Leoni, a global manufacturer, used to rely on the same basic product for cleaning across all tasks. This led to inefficiencies, unnecessary motion, and waste. Thanks to Tork Workflow, Leoni introduced a tailored system with professional wipers and dispensers for different processes. This reduced waste and improved task flow while also boosting their business sustainability.
As a result, Leoni achieved: [3]
- 18% less material waste
- 18% reduction in toxic waste
- 80% lower carbon footprint
This real-life example shows how Tork Workflow can help manufacturers like you streamline operations while also improving environmental impact and efficiency.
To sum up, improving efficiency on your manufacturing floor doesn’t necessarily require drastic changes. Sometimes, it’s just about working smarter with the right tools and support. And you’re just a click away from practical recommendations based on your facility’s particular needs. In just one hour, one of our Tork experts can assess your site and suggest ways to not only reduce waste but also improve cleaning. So, why not book your free consultation today and start taking your everyday operations to the next level?
If you’d like to know more about making better choices for your manufacturing business, you may want to have a look at our guide on industrial hygiene and safety or check out our tips on choosing the right wipers and cloths for your business.
*Removing paint that had dried for 4 minutes from a metal surface 60 x 90 cm with the aid of a solvent, white spirit. The paint, alkyd-based primer, was applied by a roller. Panel participants started off by using 10 ml solvent and were able to add more solvent into the cloth in steps of 5 ml per occasion. Cotton rags and mixed rags were compared to Tork Heavy-Duty Cleaning Cloths. Panel test conducted by Swerea Research Institute, Sweden, 2014.
**Removing 10 g of a mix of asphalt 2/3 and grease 1/3 that had dried for 1 hour, from a metal surface 60 x 90 cm with the aid of a degreaser, CRC brake degreaser. After the task, panel participants were asked to evaluate the effort/work needed on a 1–4 scale with perceived effort being; 1) very easy,2) easy, 3) tough, 4) very tough. Cotton rags and mixed rags were compared to Tork Heavy Duty Cleaning Cloths and Tork Industrial Heavy-Duty Cleaning Cloths. Panel test conducted by Swerea Research Institute, Sweden, 2014.
References:
[1] Tork machine operator research (July 2019)