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Why shadow boards for cleaning equipment?
Shadow boards are an effective and affordable way to ensure audit-compliant “5S” storage of your Vikan cleaning tools. This organisational system makes it easier to stay on top of inventories and keep the auditors satisfied. With colour-coded options for hygienic segregation, these boards help keep your tools organised, clean, and in good condition – saving you time and money every day.
What is a Shadow Board for Cleaning Tools?
A shadow board is a highly effective and widely used visual organisational tool that’s used in workplaces across various industries. It is an excellent solution for environments where tools and equipment are constantly in use and need to be easily accessible and well-organised.
The shadow board consists of a board with outlines or "shadows" to represent the shapes and sizes of the desired tools. These outlines are carefully designed to match the specific tools used in the workplace. The tools are then hung or placed within their corresponding outlines, making it easy to identify missing items and maintain an organised workspace.
Shadow boards are increasingly popular in environments such as manufacturing, cleaning, and maintenance facilities, where efficiency and productivity are important. They are particularly useful in facilities that require strict adherence to safety and hygiene standards.
By using a shadow board, a facility can reduce the risk of misplaced tools, improve the speed of tool retrieval, and ensure that all tools are returned to their designated locations after use. Shadow boards also help to maintain compliance with organisational standards such as the 5S methodology, which emphasises the importance of workplace organisation, cleanliness, and standardisation.
Overall, a shadow board is an excellent asset for any workplace that relies on the use of tools and equipment to get the job done. It's a simple yet powerful solution that can make a big difference in the day-to-day operations of a facility, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and safety.
Benefits of Shadow Boards for Cleaning Equipment
Shadow boards are a vitally helpful tool for maintaining a clean and organised workspace. They provide a designated storage space for cleaning equipment, making it easy to find tools when they are needed. In this context, shadow boards can play a crucial role in promoting hygiene and safety in workplaces where cleaning is a key part of operations. Below we will explore the benefits of shadow boards for cleaning equipment and why they are a valuable addition to any cleaning and maintenance routine.
Improved Organisation
Tools and equipment are stored in a systematic and organised manner, reducing search time and improving overall efficiency.
Enhanced Productivity
Workers can quickly locate the tools they need, reducing downtime and increasing productivity.
Visual Management
Shadow boards facilitate visual management, making it easy to identify missing items or tools that are not returned to their designated locations.
Improved Hygiene
Shadow boards can be colour-coded to match zone plans and enhance hygienic segregation of the tools. Shadow boards can either have a coloured background and white/black shadows, or a white background and coloured shadows. The tool outlines and board colours match Vikan tools.
Safety
Proper storage and organisation of tools and equipment reduce the risk of accidents and injuries caused by items being left in unsafe locations.
Audit Compliance
Make sure your tool storage methods meet all applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
Standardisation
Shadow boards promote standardisation and consistency in the workplace, as everyone knows where tools should be located.
Inventory Control
Shadow boards help in tracking tools and equipment inventory, making it easier to identify when items need replacement or maintenance.
Cost Savings
Proper tool storage extends tool life. This reduces the frequency of tool repurchases due to damaged or even lost tools, which will lead to cost savings over time.
Lean Principles
Shadow boards align with lean manufacturing principles by eliminating waste, reducing excess inventory, and optimising processes.
Sustainability
By reducing the likelihood of lost or discarded tools, shadow boards can contribute to sustainability efforts.
The Importance of Correct Cleaning Tool Storage
Proper storage of cleaning equipment is a critical factor in the food industry, and for good reason. Global food safety standards, such as BRC, mandate the need for suitable storage of cleaning tools. According to BRCGS: 4.11.6, it is stipulated that 'Cleaning equipment shall be cleaned and stored in a hygienic manner.' Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a non-conformance.
Vikan cleaning tools storage solutions, including shadow boards and a variety of wall brackets, are designed to increase cleaning efficiency and reduce tool damage and cross-contamination.
In Summary
It is essential to keep your workplace organised, productive, and safe. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by implementing the 5S methodology. 5S is a systematic approach to workplace organisation that involves five key principles: sort, set-in-order, shine, standardise, and sustain. By following these principles, you can create a workplace that is clean, efficient, and safe.
To help implement 5S methodology, many businesses have turned to shadow boards. These boards are an excellent way to visually communicate a 5S strategy to your team. They offer a practical and visually appealing solution to organise your tools, equipment, and supplies, making it easy for your team to find what they need when they need it. In addition, they help keep your workplace clean and tidy, which can lead to increased productivity, safety, and cost savings.
Why we use Vikan as our Shadow Board Supplier
Vikan shadow boards are a convenient and dependable way to get started with a better cleaning tool storage system at your facility. Made from high-quality materials, they are sturdy, attractive, and fully customisable to your specific cleaning tool inventory and colour-coding scheme. For maximised flexibility, we offer both wall-mounted and mobile shadow boards. If you need to keep your equipment closer than a wall allows, you should choose our mobile option.
Materials
At Vikan we want to ensure a high quality standard by choosing durable and hygienic materials:
Made in Alu-Dibond board material, laminated to withstand both hot and cold temperatures
Stainless steel (AISI 304) mobile frames
Stainless steel (AISI 304) Vikan single and double hooks
Hygienic Wall Bracket, Grip Band Module for handles without a hanging hole (colour-coded)
Design
Our shadow boards are developed and designed by our in-house food safety experts with our customers’ challenges in mind. They fit all Vikan tools and match our full colour palette for zone planning and colour-coding.
12 colour options to match Vikan tools. The shadow boards come with either a white background and coloured shadows, or a coloured background and white/black shadows, depending on the products for the board.
A QR code is always in the upper left corner, along with the item number for each product in the shadow graphic for easy re-ordering. It also allows you to download the technical data sheets and Declarations of Compliance (if applicable).
Bespoke designs with customer logo.
If you are interested in a shadow board cleaning station - please call us on 01482 327580.
When the design of the board is ready, we will send it to you for final approval. We will then start to produce your shadow board(s).From the time we receive your order, we typically need 2 weeks to create wall-mounted Shadow Boards and 3-4 weeks to make mobile shadow boards, plus shipping time.
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