Is CIMS Certification Right For Your Cleaning Operation

Whether you are a Building Service Contractor or an internal operation providing cleaning services within your own organization you may be considering obtaining a CIMS certification. What does that involve? What are the advantages of being CIMS certified?

What is CIMS Certification?

CIMS stands for "Cleaning Industry Management Standard".

The CIMS Standard establishes the guidelines and protocols that establish the foundation for a cleaning organization---internal or external---to provide cleaning services that are of consistent high quality and that meet the expectations of your customers.

The CIMS Standard addresses six areas of management best practices.  The following is a brief description of those areas:

• Quality Systems: Establishes a framework that fosters efficient operations with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Service Delivery: Provides guidelines for establishment of procedures necessary to deliver high-quality services.
• Human Resources: Provides best-practice guidance in areas of hiring practices, employee orientation and training, management training and executive development.
• Health, Safety, and Environmental Stewardship: This section addresses regulatory requirements/compliance and organizational environmental policy.
• Management Commitment: The cleaning organization must demonstrate that it has developed internal management systems that will support planning, communications, risk management, etc.
• Green Building (GB): This section addresses the CIMS Green Building requirements.  It contains specific guidelines for the implementation of green cleaning practices.

Click CIMS CERTIFICATION to learn more.

How to Earn CIMS Certification?

The CIMS certification process is fairly straight-forward. The first step in your application process will be to submit written documentation supporting your organization's compliance with the Standard. You must demonstrate that you comply with 100% of the "required" elements within each of the six sections covered above. You will also need to comply with 60% of the "recommended" elements within each section.

Once your documentation has been submitted and reviewed an ISSA-accredited third-party assessor will conduct an on-site audit of your systems, processes, and documentation. The assessor will be looking to validate that you are in compliance with the required elements of the CIMS Standard. The assessor may also visit other internal locations and/or external customers to ensure consistency of your documented systems and processes.

At conclusion of the audit the assessor will provide feedback.  You will either be awarded the certification or you will be provided positive feedback on the areas where improvement is needed.

Will a CIMS Certification Make Your Cleaning Operations Better?

Obtaining the CIMS Certification offers distinct advantages to BSC's as well as to in-house service providers. Compliance with the Standard provides verification that you have attained a high degree of efficiency and effectiveness within your cleaning operations. In any industry, becoming more efficient and more effective leads to reduced costs and improved bottom lines. The cleaning industry is no exception. There are also business advantages associated with acquiring these types of certifications. Acquiring the CIMS Certification will help set you apart from those competitors that are not certified.