Kärcher North America Excellence Center

The Prochem System

What it is, and how it can benefit you.

The Prochem System is the training and education arm of Prochem, specifically for independent professional cleaning companies.

The seeds of The Prochem System were sown when Prochem decided it wanted to contribute more to the professional carpet and upholstery cleaning industry than just top quality chemicals and equipment. Prochem decided to dedicate a portion of the revenue generated by chemical and equipment sales to developing and bringing to market a Professional Development Program to enhance the "total carpet ownership experience" of the consumer.

Let's face reality; the cleaning aspect of the consumer's carpet ownership experience is not always a satisfactory and positive one. Therefore, it's important to elevate not only the perception, but also the reality of the professional service and performance. That occurs when the cleaning professional, and ultimately the industry, is challenged to look beyond its own boundaries and realize that we are part of a much larger universe, that includes the fiber producers, carpet mills, fabric mills and the retail industry.

The carpet cleaning industry can no longer afford to be provincial. It must recognize, and act upon the fact, that it is a key part of the total carpet ownership experience of the consumer.   Read More

The Prochem System is designed to provide the foundation and give the support from which enhanced professionalism can flourish through greater proficiency in the technical, marketing and business aspects of operating a cleaning business. It will also help create favorable side benefit. Namely, that the less professional and unstable operators will find it more difficult to compete and survive, when a higher level of professionalism and performance, as displayed by more professional cleaning businesses, becomes the base expectation from the consumers of carpet cleaning services.

The Prochem System can help make the smaller cleaning business better able to compete with larger cleaning businesses, without having to resort to destructive discounting. Destructive discounting only makes you and your equipment tired and worn out permanently, with little to show for your hard working efforts.

Just how does The Prochem System fulfill its mission to be a technical education, marketing and business resource? Let's take a look at each one of those areas individually..

The Prochem System "Business Systems Sales & Marketing" manual is a resource tool that delves into the various marketing and sales techniques that have been successfully used in the service industry. The manual also details the development and implementation of the "Marketing and Sales Blueprint" so that the resources that are available to him or her.

Among the marketing topics presented are:

• How to determine your customer demographics.
• Viewing and analyzing your competition.
• Positioning yourself in your market place.
• Marketing Planning Developing Marketing and Sales Strategies.
• Various methods of advertising and promotions.

The marketing and sale materials comprise five of the nine sections in the Business Systems and Marketing & Sales Manual and contains many checklists and self-evaluation forms to help assess and improve your current marketing and sales efforts.

Business Systems Resource

The Business Systems information, which is also included in the "Business Systems Sales & Marketing" manual is as valuable for the new start-up as it is for the seasoned veteran.

If there were only one truth in this industry it would have to be that there are many "technically" proficient owners and operators, but few that are truly proficient in business. Many owners who have been operating for three or more years start to discover that they are not running a business, instead the business is running them! And, if they desired to sell their business today, they would come to the realization that their company has very little worth, other than providing a living for themselves.

The Business Systems part of The Prochem System "Business System Sales & Marketing" manual is designed to help turn that around.

Key sections include:

• Start-up Decisions
• Organizing your business
• Successful Administration

The "Start-up Decisions" section is a great primer for the owner/operator new to this industry. It is also a good review for the person who has already had a professional cleaning business for some time.

Just as the marketing and sales section of the manual helped create a blueprint for that aspect of your business, the business systems sections helps you develop a "Master Business Blueprint".

A Master Architect creates an extensive and detailed set of blueprints before actually undertaking the construction of any building project. Likewise, we believe that you, the business owner, should have a detailed business plan ("blueprint") for the operation of your carpet and fabric care business. The Prochem System Business Systems information will provide you with a detailed and systematic business analyzing and planning process through the creation of the Master Business Blueprint.

Some of the items it takes in consideration are:

• Your Goals
• Location Analysis
• Cost to Start a Business
• Your Resources
• Capital Outlay
• Market Evaluation
• Service Evaluation
• Budget Planning

The Master Business Blueprint makes it easy to journey through what could otherwise be a confusing maze of information, analyses, and procedures to help make your business operating knowledge as sharp as your technical knowledge.

Technical Education Resource

The Prochem System offers comprehensive IICRC carpet and upholstery certification training through customer training modules. Each module consists of an in-depth manual, a supplemental video and audiotape that demonstrates the actual techniques and practical applications of what was covered in the manual and the classroom.

The videos that accompany the CCT and UFT manuals provide the practical application element that is important to fully understand the technical performance aspects of the subject being studied. The videos serve as training supplements and as excellent review tools.

The Prochem System is an IICRC Approved School which offers IICRC Certification as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning schools in Commercial Carpet Cleaning Technician (CMT), Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician (RRT), and Odor Control Technician (OCT).

"Carpet Cleaning Workshop For Technicians" is a revolutionary new and affordable in-house training program for new employees. This program, developed by industry training pioneer Lee Pemberton in conjunction with The Prochem System, is an interactive CD-ROM computer-based training system that is easy to use and highly effective in training new employees. The training takes just a few hours per session, and allows training to meet any schedule. Reviews and tests assure that learning has taken place. The lessons follow IICRC cleaning standards, and for IICRC certified employees can be used to earn two required IICRC continuing education credits (CEC's) without leaving the office. It's also a great resource for new business startup training.

The Prochem System also conducts hands-on workshops through Prochem dealers. These half-day sessions allow you or your technicians to learn the proper techniques of carpet and upholstery cleaning, carpet and fabric protection, and spotting. Each student had the opportunity for hand-on experience. Although these workshops cannot provide you IICRC certification, they are excellent preparation for, or follow up to an IICRC course. As such, they do earn IICRC certified individuals continuing education credit (CEC).

As you can see by this short overview, The Prochem System is not a quickly thrown together program. A lot of thought and design went into it. You might say that Prochem developed a Master Prochem System Blueprint before embarking on the development of The Prochem System. You can be assured that with the resources and reputation of Prochem behind The Prochem System that it is a top-notch professional business, marketing and technical development program for you, the independent professional cleaning business.