If there's
one statistic that ordinary dry cleaners love to track it's pieces
per hour (PPH).
PPH is, essentially, the number of garments (or pieces) a
presser can bang out on a press in a one hour period. Ordinary
cleaners typically track PPH by the hour, by the day and by the
week.
Here's an example:
An ordinary cleaner may have a "standard" of 37 pants per
presser per hour - irrespective of whether they are wools, silks,
cottons or linens. And a standard of 23 non-pant garments per
presser per hour - again, irrespective of whether they are wool
sweaters, silk ties, cotton blouses or linen blazers.
That means that every minute of the day those pressers (actually
"piece workers") are "under the gun" to achieve those minimum
standards.
If they consistently meet or exceed those minimum standards,
they're hailed as heroes. If they consistently fail to meet or
exceed those minimum standards, they're out the door - even if
they're talented pressers, even if they can hand press a cotton
blouse with extensive ruffles to perfection.
To enforce
those standards, cleaners even have computer monitors and
scanners mounted above each press. As soon as the
presser completes a garment, that piece is recorded.
If you see those computer monitors and scanners above a press in
a dry cleaning plant, it's likely that production quotas are in
place and that the pressers are being paid by the piece - sweat
shop style.
If you can't see the dry cleaner's production area but you know
your dry cleaner is gluing
bar codes onto all your garments, it's also likely
that production quotas are in place and that the pressers are being
paid by the piece.
Furthermore, if you think that the concept of PPH is limited to
value/discount and ordinary cleaners only, you'd be mistaken. Many
pretender cleaners also embrace the PPH religion.
At RAVE FabriCARE, our attitude towards PPH is completely
different: PPH kills true quality.
It's axiomatic that pressers will give you what gets measured
and what they get paid for. If you measure and pay for PPH, that's
exactly what you'll get. Damn the
dry cleaning standards (if any). Damn the
shirt laundry standards (if any). Damn the clients' fine
garments.
Bottom line: If you employ skilled, talented pressers, treat
them well, and pay them well, you'll get quality.
If you measure and pay for PPH, you'll get
quantity.
It's just that simple. And that complicated.
How can I help you?