Continuous improvement. When applied to the laundry business, the term conjures images of major upgrades, such as the acquisition of new plants or the installation of tunnel washers or other equipment systems. But in many cases, less dramatic changes, such as fine-tuning the layout of the production floor, can go a long way toward improving productivity by making the workspace more comfortable for employees.
 
New Garment Area
 
Emerald Textiles, San Diego, recently experienced the benefits of the latter style of continuous improvement. The company enhanced its operation by relocating its garment-processing department away from ...