Presidential visit
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce poses for a photo with the Odegaard Undergraduate Library custodial team.
From left-to-right: Custodian Nenita Bagaoisan, Interim Vice President Elizabeth Cherry, Custodian Meaza Weldegebriel, President Cauce, Custodian Asma Biru and Custodian Azemera Tefrie.
For the first-time ever, a sitting University president paid a visit to two Custodial Services teams to learn about their work on process improvements.
“The way that a place looks can make such a difference in so many ways,” said University President Ana Mari Cauce.
The idea for these new bins in Odegaard came from the building’s custodial team. The new bins feature a back, so trash doesn’t land around or behind the bins, which sometimes stained the walls and carpet.
Teams from Odegaard Undergraduate Library (OUGL) and Suzzallo/Allen Library have been huddling daily for over a year. Through this process both teams have found ways to complete work in a more timely fashion, reduce hazards and improve safety, and almost eliminate the number of complaints about their service.
“[In Odegaard], students tend to throw garbage at the bins from a distance, so we had problems with trash on the walls behind the bins and on the floors next to the bins,” said Custodian Meaza Weldegebriel. “We worked with UW Recycling on a new bin design with backs, now we don’t have to clean around the bins as much.”
UW Recycling and Custodial Services both fall under Building Services, one of Facilities Services’ largest and most diverse departments.
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce poses for a photo with the Odegaard Undergraduate Library custodial team.
From left-to-right: Interim Vice President Elizabeth Cherry, Custodian Muang Saepharn, Custodian Nai Saeparn, Custodian Mary Agard, President Cauce, Custodian Hiwet Hidru, Custodian Elsa Araya, Custodian Jung Hee Jung, Custodian Freweini Abrham and Custodian John Rodgers.
Custodian Mary Agard explains some of the Suzzallo/Allen library custodial team’s ideas to improve their work.
“We call ourselves the Rainbow Team because we have such varied backgrounds,” said Custodian Mary Agard.
Like the Odegaard team, the Suzzallo/Allen team also had plenty of examples of ideas they’ve come up with to improve processes for their work.
“Chairs in Suzzallo’s Reading Room are heavy and difficult to move,” said Agard. “Our team came up with the idea to add plastic slider pads to the bottoms of the chairs so they would be easier to move.”
The idea makes vacuuming in the Suzzallo Reading Room easier, and creates more time for custodians to work on other projects in the building.
“Battery-powered backpack vacuums have made it easier for us to clean stairs without the risk of students tripping over cords,” added Agard.
Custodial Services launched nine building-oriented process improvement teams in 2015, including the Physics & Astronomy Building team, Health Sciences Dental Wing, Health Sciences J and K wings, Padelford Hall, Health Sciences RR/BB and Bagley Hall. There are plans to launch an additional six-to-eight teams in 2016.
