When Ames Shuel purchased HP Chemical in 1964, there were two full-time and three part-time employees, with one van for deliveries. More than 40 years later, the Indianapolis-based cleaning products distributor boasts more than 400 employees and a fleet of delivery vehicles.

The $121-million company’s successful growth can be attributed to a promise made by Shuel, a vision that still drives HP Products today: to provide the best products, services, and support possible at competitive prices.

“Times have changed, but our commitment to customer service has not,” company materials state. “Although our product and equipment offerings have been greatly increased, we are continuously researching new, innovative ideas that will increase our market share and continue to assist our customers with their cost-reduction programs.”

Customized solutions
HP Products not only provides the cleaning products, it also provides the service. Building service contractors constitute a major part of the company’s business, and HP provides a cleaning program that promises to dramatically improve janitorial quality and productivity.

HP partners with its business service contractor clients to maintain safety standards, ensure the success of OSHA-mandated programs, and guarantee the appropriate use of cleaning products. Through its Team Cleaning program, HP educates and motivates employees to provide superior janitorial service.

“Poor cleaning services too often result in loss of business to another location or building service contractor,” company materials state. “Our Team Cleaning program, coupled with your dedicated supervisors, will differentiate your firm from the competition.”

HP Products also serves clients in general manufacturing, government, schools and universities, and healthcare, with programs tailored to meet the specific requirements in each industry. For example, healthcare facilities comprise a full 16% of the organization’s business, and HP Products makes a special commitment to the long-term care industry to meet its unique demands.

HP strives to help long-term care facilities create customized cost-reduction programs. Many of the company’s long-term care providers use HP’s per-patient-day (PPD) program to achieve substantial cost savings on laundry services. The cost of the PPD program is based on the number of beds per facility, with services billed quarterly. And products in the PPD program can be re-ordered on an automated basis each month based on the facility’s head count, ensuring long-term care providers are only paying for the services they use.

“In the long-term care business, every dollar counts. That is why HP Products laundry/dietary division works within each facility’s budget to create a customized cost-reduction program that helps contain the costs for vital cleaning and sanitation services.”

Staying connected
With distribution centers in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky, HP Products’ strategically located network ensures frequent, fast, and flexible deliveries to its customers across the Midwest. A full suite of operations technology ties the network together and helps HP Products perform at optimum efficiency.

Microsoft Dynamics allows the company to bring together information from every corner of its operations, allowing for continuous data analysis. Data entered at one facility is shared across the company, speeding operations, reducing errors, and putting accurate information at the fingertips of those who need it most.

A high-volume distribution module from MBS Dev provides a comprehensive and functionally deep application that gives HP Products the capabilities it needs to service customers while reducing operational overhead. And an Integrated Logistics Solutions package from Manhattan Associates helps the company integrate its numerous business processes throughout the supply chain.

In the distribution centers, workers use handheld computers from LXE to accurately pick and sort inventory, ensuring the right products are put on the right trucks. And the Roadnet Transportation Suite from UPS ensures that those trucks travel the best routes and arrive at a customer’s location on time.

The combined operations technology suite helps HP Products achieve its quality mission statement: to exceed the highest standards set forth by customer expectations. “We take the time to learn about each customer’s unique ordering and inventory requirements and customize our distribution routes accordingly to meet their production demands,” company materials state. “HP Products is committed to continuous quality improvement, and strives to be the best logistics partner in the industry.”

Green clean
As more people demand their places of business, schools, and medical facilities become safe and environmentally friendly, HP Products is expanding its green cleaning initiative.

Customized Green Cleaning programs help organizations meet the needs of their workers, customers, and the environment. And HP’s Green Cleaning products address a wide range of indoor environmental issues, respiratory ailments, allergies, dust mites, mold and mildew, and harmful chemicals sensitivities.

Together, HP Products’ Green Cleaning programs and products reduce risk of injury from chemicals by replacing the most dangerous cleaning products with safer ones, reducing the total number of chemicals used, and following safety measures.

“HP Products can help examine the needs of a facility and come up with a plan that determines the healthiest and safest ways to address cleaning problems,” company materials state. “As a result, organizations can implement enhanced environmental standards of routine cleaning activities without sacrificing cleaning effectiveness. It is possible to implement green cleaning while reducing overall cost of doing business and improving employee productivity.”