Kansas State University (KSU) switched to cordless backpack vacuums two and a half years ago. According to Linda Craghead, Director of Facility Services, the results have been “astounding.” Since the cordless adoption, Craghead reports greater efficiency and productivity, better air quality, and more satisfied building occupants. And the use of cordless has made the implementation of (OS1) and team cleaning a reality.
The KSU campus includes 65 buildings in the small town of Manhattan, Kansas. Craghead’s 100 frontline workers and ten managers clean 6.2 million square feet daily. For years, they did so with upright vacuums. As the fleet of uprights aged, many began to fail, and Linda used the need for new equipment as a reason to switch to ProTeam®.
“It was obvious we need[ed] to do something different,” stated Craghead. “Cleaning with uprights is so time-consuming. Rather than get more of the same thing, we wanted to transition to a vacuum that made a difference. We chose ProTeam because of their reputation for efficiency and high levels of cleanliness.”
KSU replaced half of its uprights with the ProTeam GoFree® Flex Pro II with plans to double its current fleet of 35 backpack vacuums.
With the need for new equipment, Craghead took the opportunity to enhance her team’s ability to do their job and do it well. She chose to go cordless because of the data. Research shows you can clean six times faster with a cordless backpack than with uprights. And according to Craghead, you get a much better outcome. She stated, “There’s no comparison, these backpack vacuums clean so much faster, and they do it better. They make it easy to vacuum around desks, tables and other stationary objects.”
“Our efficiency is up. Our productivity is up. And we have done it all while increasing safety.”
Health and safety are the primary drivers behind everything the facility services department at KSU does. Their high standards of cleaning prevent the spread of harmful germs. “We do everything we can to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), said Craghead. “The GoFree Flex Pro II makes that easy. The difference is noticeable. We dust less in buildings where we use ProTeam.”
But IAQ is only one facet of safety to going cordless. Craghead said, “25,000 people come in and out of our campus buildings each day. With corded vacuums, that’s a lot of tripping potential. In addition to giving us cleaner air, going cordless made our buildings physically safer.”
The decision to shift to ProTeam was made independent of COVID, though it couldn’t have come at a better time. “I think these vacuums saved us, said Craghead. “Increased air quality and productivity meant we had more time to focus on the high-touch areas. We couldn't have done that with uprights.”
Craghead attributes KSU’s successful navigation of COVID primarily to ProTeam. “The GoFree Flex Pro II made it possible to do so much more. I guarantee we had no widespread outbreaks because we could focus on what needed to be done.”
It’s one thing for custodial workers to notice a difference in cleanliness. Their attention to detail means they tend to see things others don’t. However, when building occupants recognize a difference, that’s a game changer for Craghead.
“Since we shifted to ProTeam, our building occupant surveys have drastically improved. People comment on the cleanliness and air quality. For me, that’s major validation that we made the right choice with ProTeam.”
In addition to new vacuums, KSU implemented (OS1). This cleaning approach certifies team members in tasks like vacuuming, dusting and bathroom cleaning. Once a member completes the certification in a given area, they become part of a team of specialists who clean a building as a unit, each individual tackling their area of expertise.
“Because of the increase in productivity we have seen with cordless backpack vacuums, we have been able to make time for the (OS1) transition”, said Craghead. “The difference is noticeable. When employees are highly trained in an area, they have increased ownership. Not to mention there is a greater understanding of how what they do impacts everyone else.”
Kansas State University is the third school in the Big 12 to deploy (OS1).
“Cordless backpack vacuums and (OS1) are great things to embrace,” said Craghead. “Each one gives you the ability to do more and putting the two together is incredible! My only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner.”
Learn more about the GoFree Flex Pro II at proteam.emerson.com.
