National Clothesline

Training employees is often a difficult and expensive endeavor, but the International Fabricare Institute hopes to help its members overcome those obstacles by offering them a new instructional video series.

Due to recent advances in technology, IFI is now capable of producing the series 100-percent in-house and cut costs considerably.

The first video produced covers the topic of “Quality Shirt Finishing” in great detail, outlining how to achieve excellent shirt finishing while moving at a production-oriented pace.

On the training video, IFI Instructor Brian Johnson demonstrates the most current finishing methods available step-by-step, illustrating the proper use of the sleever, collar and cuff press and body unit in order to ultimately reduce touch-up time while provide the maximum workflow efficiency possible.

Additionally, the video examines realistic production demands that owners can expect and employees can achieve.

The idea originally sprang from the mind of IFI President Don Fawcett, who sought a better teaching tool for the employees of his various Dependable Cleaners stores in Massachusetts. He was familiar with a training video offered by a major shirt finishing manufacturer, but he wanted one that did more than simply show a person pressing for an extended amount of time.

“There was no instruction at all,” Fawcett recalled. “Someone set up a movie camera and took pictures for an hour.”

The “extremely rough” footage was not exactly what he had in mind, but it did provide a visual depiction of the rhythm of the production process.

“When we work with a new presser, we emphasize technology, training and productivity,” Fawcett explained. “When we tell them it’s possible to do 50 to 55 shirts per hour, they’re skeptical. If you can show them the video, it means a lot because they’re seeing that kind of production being done.”

While a more tailored video would benefit IFI’s membership, implementing the idea meant circumventing certain financial roadblocks.

Producing an unbudgeted video — in lean economic times, no less — could set the association back about $12,000 to pay for a production company.

The prospect seemed unlikely, at best, so IFI CEO Bill Fisher devised an alternative solution.

“I had just completed making a personal video on CD-ROM, and I thought it was time to do it internally,” he said. “I expect that only 10 to 15 percent of our members have VHS in their plant, but almost everybody has a computer. I could see how this would allow us to do other languages and equipment as well.”

“I was hoping for a video that would be close in quality to what we’ve done before, but I really believe this has turned out to be the best video by far that we’ve ever done,” Fisher added. “The icing on the cake is since it cost us so much less to produce, we’ve been able to drop the price by 67%!”

The “Quality Shirt Finishing” video is available only to IFI members for $50 in CD-ROM, DVD and VHS formats.

Future videos in the series will cover topics such as pants finishing, customer service and other aspects of drycleaning.

IFI will not hire any professionals for the ongoing project, but instead turn to the amateur talent inside its offices.

Tim Parris, vice president of finance, for example, has a great natural voice for the narration of the videos.

The cinematography and audio/video editing was handled by I.T. specialist Bryan Sniffen, who utilized some of his prior educational experience. “It was quite a diversion from my regular duties,” he said.

Manager of Education and Training Jane Rising also chipped in by earning credits as screenwriter and technical editor. She ensured that all of the information presented was updated and accurate.

The “star” of the video, instructor Brian Johnson, had ample experience demonstrating production methods in front of a live audience at IFI’s School of Dry Cleaning Technology, however, he admitted some reservations over taping finishing instruction on real-time video.

“I was a bit concerned,” he said. “I hadn’t pressed shirts in a productive manner for a number of years, so I guess I was wondering if I still had it. But it’s like riding a bike.”

Johnson has been with IFI since 1999. Prior to joining the staff, he had spent nearly 15 years at plants in the D.C. metropolitan area.

“You don’t really want to think about how many shirts you’ve done,” he said. “You usually tune out and think about what time lunch is. At least, I did.”

Though it is easy to lose count sometimes, Johnson and IFI both acknowledge the importance of implementing production standards in plants.

“We get calls all the time from owners and managers who want to know expectations — if 40 to 50 shirts per hour is possible,” Johnson said.

“If a shirt presser follows the correct technique, it shouldn’t be difficult to get a quality shirt at a good rate of production,” Johnson explained.

For information on the new “Quality Shirts Finishing” video, call IFI, (800) 638-2627.