Gaining Experience at Seattle Airport, Declared one of the World’s Cleanest Airports.

On 12 October 2022, Helge Alt visited Seattle Airport on her travels, where she saw electronic cleaning monitoring systems from our esteemed partner Optiqo in use. QlvrBoxes are utilised to track customer traffic, and the same system allows for work time registration with just a chip card. Alongside the QlvrBox, there is also a QR code-based customer feedback survey. Feedback can be provided separately on various topics, such as dissatisfaction with cleanliness or a broken toilet seat lid. The feedback automatically reaches the designated person, who can then proceed to address the respective issue.

The airport has acquired the system and uses it to monitor the procurement of cleaning services. The cleaning company also has access to certain parts of the system, enabling them to use the collected data for needs-based cleaning planning. Cleaners go where needed and perform the necessary tasks.

Over 100 cleaners work at Seattle Airport. To coordinate their work, it is crucial to use electronic monitoring and surveillance systems to organise cleaning activities based on need. According to a representative of the cleaning company, the use of Optiqo has significantly facilitated their operations. They receive immediate feedback on their activities, internal inspections are conducted with Optiqo, and cleaners receive scheduled electronic work instructions. By collectively reviewing the collected data, it is possible to save significant resources by eliminating unnecessary trips and activities.

Indeed, the airport was clean. However, observing the activities of the cleaners and the methods and tools used for dirt removal, there is still considerable room for improvement in this area. Cleanliness could be achieved with less work if dirt were removed in a more well-informed manner.

Overly wet methods, spreading dirt (i.e. creating surface dirt), and the use of spray bottles, among other things, were observed as issues at times. If cleaning is performed so that dirt is removed simply and in one go, meaning cleaning tools and technology are consciously applied, and Optiqo monitoring and surveillance systems are utilised, then cleaning can be made significantly more efficient.

If you wish to receive more information regarding the technology used at Seattle Airport, the short training session titled “IT Solutions for Cleaning Management” will again take place on 17 January 2023, where all of this will be discussed in more detail.