9 replies to this topic

[D-D]

Hi all,
I am drafting a master cleaning schedule / plan for our BRC project. The environment is generally closed processes and low risk products (concentrated flavours and blends). I was thinking for each building / area listing cleaning frequency and method for floors, walls, ceilings, overheads (we have a lot of ducting and pipework needing specialist high level cleaning), mixing vessels internal (after each batch), external (as needed?)...
Is this on the right track? What else should I be thinking about?
Thanks.

[MQA]

Yep, you're on the right track.

The cleaning schedule will include:

• WHO Who is to clean
• WHAT What is to be cleaned; What chemicals and equipment are required for the cleaning
• WHEN When it should be cleaned
• HOW How it should be cleaned
• WHY Contamination awareness or major threats

I've attached a sample on how your spreadsheet will look. It's developed in good ol' Microsoft Excel and filters are used when printing the schedule for each area.

Attached Files

•  Schedule - Cleaning & Sanitation.pdf   109.9KB   3120 downloads

[D-D]

Well now that is very helpful, thank you very much JAKMQA. Just a simple template showing those headers was enough for me to pull things together for one of our smaller buildings and once that is okay I will continue for the others.
I have not referenced cleaning of the interior of mixing vessels as that is covered by separate procedures after each run. This schedule is for equipment exterior, floors, walls, high level clean etc. Is that about right?

[MQA]

Is the internal cleaning of the vessels conducted by contractors?

I tend to put everything and anything that has to do with cleaning on the schedule. After all, it is the master cleaning schedule. It is then printed after utilising the filters so it can be printed for each area. Meaning the Production Area won't also get a print out of the Distribution Area and so forth.

I've added contracted work on the Master Cleaning Schedule. If it's on the schedule, it is less likely to be forgotten.

I have also developed a peasey easy Annual Planner printed for all to see. It's a fresh print each year and states specifically whom needs to be called in for contracted cleaning / maintenance / etc. I found this easier for the production team when the office staff looked after the appointment / booking side of things!

Can I also suggest: make it simple. The less amount of words, the more likely the schedule will be followed and respected. Attached to the Excel Cleaning Schedule is also:

• Vital instructions, inclusive of colour coding of cloths, buckets etc
• List of chemicals and equipment used
• Chemical application
• Between batch production cleaning

[esquef]

Just my take on the topic:

I have a Master Cleaning Schedule that's organized similar to JAKMQA's and set up for tasks that are daily, bi-weekly, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis.

Also, I set up a seperate Master Sanitation Schedule for processing equipment that has product contact surfaces as well as areas overhead product contact surfaces. These procedures must be validated to ensure that the sanitation procedures are effective in removing not just residual product, but any potential microbial growth, as well as rinsed well enough so as not to leave any sanitation chemical residue.

Fun stuff!

Edited by esquef, 14 April 2011 - 02:10 PM.

[MQA]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that.

The master cleaning schedule will include all between batches, daily, weekly, monthly etc types of cleaning.

Noice one esquef!

I remember when I conducted my first schedule some ten years back. It was frightfully overwhelming... it's easy now...

[D-D]

I've got everything on there apart from the vessel interiors, which are cleaned after every batch (I had those on originally but took them off as the rest is plant / building but I will put them back on).
Cleaning is done by operator / cleaner / contractor depending on the job and as it is in Excel it is easy to sort as you suggest but for now I have it ordered by frequency of cleaning to think about logical steps e.g. wet clean walls, windows, window sills every 6 months but plan that after a daily floor sweep and finish with the weekly floor wet clean.
Thanks again you two!

[D-D]

Just coming back to this...
I have drawn diagrams for each area with colours to highlight cleaning frequency of various things. This gives me a page each showing daily/weekly/monthly/6 monthly/3 yearly) cleaining requirements.
Equipment cleaning is recorded on the product batch sheet and the 3 yearly clean (high level) will go into maintenance records but anyone got some nifty ideas for a record sheet showing the daily/weekly/monthly/6 monthly cleaning has been done i.e. signed off? At the moment I am trying to use Excel but I don't want to create a calendar for every area every month; I am hoping there is an easier solution.
Thanks.
[UPDATE: Never mind about this; I created a record for each area that can be used every month]

Edited by D-D, 08 June 2011 - 07:18 AM.

[Jim E.]

Yep, you're on the right track.

The cleaning schedule will include:

• WHO Who is to clean
• WHAT What is to be cleaned; What chemicals and equipment are required for the cleaning
• WHEN When it should be cleaned
• HOW How it should be cleaned
• WHY Contamination awareness or major threats

I've attached a sample on how your spreadsheet will look. It's developed in good ol' Microsoft Excel and filters are used when printing the schedule for each area.

Just looking over what you prescribed for a master cleaning schedule, what do you use for tracking purposes to ensure it is being done? Our master cleaning schedule lists each area, how often it is cleaned, reference to Sanitation B.O.P and space to record each time it is cleaned. Our master cleaning schedule does not include daily requirements as it has its own daily listing being completed.

[MQA]

Dear D-D,

My apologies in the belated reply; have been absent from this forum the past two months. But with your messages, I can see that you are on track. Let us know if you have any other queries.

Just looking over what you prescribed for a master cleaning schedule, what do you use for tracking purposes to ensure it is being done? Our master cleaning schedule lists each area, how often it is cleaned, reference to Sanitation B.O.P and space to record each time it is cleaned. Our master cleaning schedule does not include daily requirements as it has its own daily listing being completed.

Dear Jim E,

For every Schedule, there should be a form to document when the tasks are completed. The form details a list of items to clean with days to fill in when the task is completed.

Schedule = Instructions
Form (Records) = Action

Plant / equipment swabbing and product testing will act as your validation. Further investigations of the records will determine if the actual cleaning is working for you or not.