Textile Care Operative

Occupation Overview

Providing laundry services and often product rental, to a wide range of sectors in the UK

Details of standard

The textile care industry encompasses commercial laundry and dry/wet cleaning. Commercial laundries provide laundry services and often product rental, to a wide range of sectors in the UK. This includes work-wear for manufacturing, industrial, food, transport and pharmaceutical sectors; and linen for hospitality, catering, hotel, hospital and care sectors. Dry/wet cleaning is defined as high street aftercare of garments and fabrics using solvents such as perchloroethylene or hydro-carbons (dry) or the relatively new aqueous-based process utilising detergents (wet).

There are over 3,500 textile care businesses in the UK, ranging in size from SMEs to PLCs. The industry employs circa 32,000 employees and is worth in the region of £1billion a year. Textile Care Services Operatives form the majority of employees in the sector and are at the heart of the operation.

Textile Care Services Operatives typical duties include:

Sorting and identifying incoming product, often using technology, e.g. work-wear, table cloths, sheets, towels, personal items for dry/wet cleaning;
Ensuring the product is high-quality and fit for purpose;
Working safely and efficiently, whilst minimising the impact on the environment;
Rectifying basic faults, e.g. product mis-feed;
Classifying products for appropriate cleaning process;
Using appropriate chemicals to undertake the cleaning process, e.g. bleach;
Operating specialist equipment/machinery to process products in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs), e.g. batch washing machines and presses steamers;
Drying and finishing products whilst adhering to company quality procedures; and
Preparing and packing items for dispatch to meet customer requirements.

Textile Care Services Operatives operate in an increasingly high technology based environment. Textile Care Service Operatives report to a Team Leader or Line Manager. They may also interact with Production Managers, General Managers, Engineers, Customer Service Executives, Account Managers, Drivers and customers. Working patterns may include shift work, as much of the sector operates 365 days per year.

Textile Care Service Operatives have core knowledge, skills and behaviours and specialist knowledge and skills in either commercial laundry or dry/wet cleaning.

Typical job titles include: Laundry Operative, Production Operative, Garment Cleaner, Dry Clean Operative, Wet Clean Operative and General Laundry Operative.

CORE SKILLS

Communication and Time Management

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Communicate effectively with internal/external customers, colleagues and managers and work as part of a team.

Effectively self-manage their time and work load at all times to meet customer service level agreements.

IT and Equipment

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Use IT, technology, systems and equipment, safely and efficiently, in line with SOPs and minimising impact on environment.

Complete correct documentation in line with SOPs.

Rectify basic faults in equipment, e.g. product mis-feed.

Sorting

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Sort/classify and identify products for processing, including identifying any special cleaning processes required, e.g. stain removal.

Ensure work flow scheduling to meet customer demands.

Washing

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Process items, including any specialist treatment requirements. Ensure washing is prioritised in line with operational demands.

Drying

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Dry items to achieve the quality of product in a timely manner to fit in with operational demands.

Finishing

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Finish the product in line with customer quality standards.

Quality check the finished products and identify any rejects or rewash.

Sorting / Packing

Textile Care Services Operative can -

Sort and pack items ready for return to the customer. Ensure all products are packed to the correct quantity and type and are packaged according to the customer requirements.