By Silvia Schollenberger

Cleaning industrial production facilities is a highly specialised task in what can sometimes be a high-risk environment, that goes far beyond surface-level wipe downs and sweeping.

Every manufacturing process is unique, especially their associated risks, which can range from high temperatures, high pressures, use of toxic or flammable raw materials all the way to risk of contamination in the manufacturing of food. Effective cleaning is often overlooked but it should be a key consideration and needs to be customised to protect products, safeguard workers, and to minimise costly downtime.

Seamless integration of cleaning with production schedules is vital. Specialised cleaning of production lines and machinery is often only scheduled to take place during planned maintenance. Close collaboration between Cleaning and Hygiene service providers and operations can create efficiency benefits when cleaning crews can also clean machines during unplanned downtimes. This allows for increased up-time of production lines or machines as the need for further down-time for cleaning can be delayed or even avoided.

Tailored Solutions for every industry

Industries have different moving parts and cleaning requirements. In the tyre industry, strict contamination controls are vital for the product to be vetted for its eventual use in the motor industry. A single foreign object in the rubber mix can lead to defective products and increased waste. Cleaning protocols should be designed in collaboration with clients, covering the entire production cycle, from raw material handling to final quality control. These protocols are monitored via custom dashboards, and reported on, ensuring traceability and audit readiness. Regular reports from Cleaning and Hygiene service providers, should provide clients with statistics on reduced equipment downtime, due to tailored cleaning schedules.  

Chemical manufacturing could involve the use and production of toxic, flammable, and explosive materials. Here, cleaning equipment and solutions must be vetted carefully to ensure safety protocols are always adhered to.

The pharmaceutical sector is another sector that is subject to rigorous process controls as per the Good Manufacturing Practices (‘GMP’) and Good Distribution Practices (‘GDP’) and a range of other process adherence requirements. Cleaning and Hygiene services should support adherence to covering items from warehouse deep cleaning, that limit dust build up all the way to running an Integrated Pest Management solution in-line with Hazard and Critical Control Points (‘HACCP’) requirements.

Glass manufacturing processing again poses unique challenges, from hot furnaces and hazardous gases to sharp glass shards. Cleaning must be precisely timed and carefully executed, always prioritising safety and operational continuity

In food manufacturing, cleanliness can directly impact consumer health and so producers risk reputation knocks as well as possible liability claims if their products cause illness amongst their consumers. Cleaning and Hygiene service providers should use colour-coded equipment to prevent cross-contamination and should swab and test surfaces for bacterial activity, using specified techniques, to support the client control measures.

The listeriosis outbreak across South Africa in 2018, placed greater emphasis on hygiene protocols and increased audit requirement implemented and, by extension cleaning service providers needed to support their customers in this sector with better monitoring and reporting – in-line with the requirement for increased their surveillance.

Specialised industrial cleaning is no longer a support function; it should be a strategic part of manufacturing. From avoiding contamination to keeping workers safe, healthy and ensuring compliance, the role of a modern industrial cleaning service provider is multi-dimensional.

By co-creating tailored, risk-conscious solutions with Cleaning and Hygiene service providers, cleaning teams help maintain smooth operations, reduce liability, and protect both people and products—making them a vital partner in every industrial setting.