Summary: After trained examiners and accomplished business professionals performed a thorough assessment of its facility, Abbott Nutrition Supply Chain has been awarded the internationally recognized Shingo Prize from the Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.
LOGAN, Utah – The Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, has awarded Abbott Nutrition Supply Chain in Granada, Spain, with the Shingo Prize.
“Receipt of the Shingo Prize is a worldwide recognized symbol of an organization’s successful establishment of a culture anchored on principles of enterprise excellence—principles such as respect for every individual, leading with humility, quality at the source, the quest for perfection, creating value for the customer, etc.,” said Ken Snyder, executive director at the Shingo Institute. “Ultimately, these recipients are in a class of the best organizations in the world, regardless of industry or country.”
For more than 125 years, Abbott has brought new products and technologies to the world—in established pharmaceutical products, diagnostic products, nutritional products, and cardiovascular and neuromodulation products—that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 99,000 emloyees work in the more than 150 countries they serve. The manufacturing facility in Granada was established in 1992 and acquired by Abbott in 1994. The team is made up of approximately 189 employees and is the centre of excellence for introducing new products with complex formulas for Abbott’s nutrition business. Their employees work across Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Human Resources (HR), Engineering, and Finance, all with one mission: “To offer nutritional products to maximize people’s well-being.”
“Abbott is humbled to receive the prestigious Shingo Prize,” says Alberto Suarez, the Granada site director. “On behalf of everyone at the Granada site, it’s an honor to be recognized for our hard work and our commitment to excellence. We take great pride in delivering scientifically proven products to help people of all ages live their healthiest lives.”
Fatima Urena, manufacturing frontline leader, says, “What we are today is the result of many years of work, work done with a lot of passion, of love for what we do, of our perseverance and efforts. Our Supply Chain team is so proud of the Shingo Prize and excited about continuing to build our future.”
Victor Pena, QA lab specialist, adds: “I am a father to triplets who were fed with our special formula for premature babies. Our work, to make products that help improve people’s health, is priceless.”
The Granada site has seen a number of noteworthy achievements since embarking on their Shingo journey. In 2011, they introduced automation equipment at the end of the line packaging process for case-packing and palletising, and it has continuously evolved. Since its implementation, it has been replicated at sites in Ireland and the United States and has remarkably reduced product changeover times. They have achieved and maintained International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001, 50001, and Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 accreditation. A strong compliance environment has been cultivated, which is exemplified by the fact that 100 percent of all employee training has been completed on time for more than 500 days. Since 2010, the site has been recognized as the Top Employer in Spain by the Top Employers Institute, a distinction that can be credited to the site’s employees, HR practices, and the great work environment.
By “challenging” or applying for an award, organizations invite a group of accomplished professionals and trained examiners to thoroughly review their culture and operations. The examiners evaluate the challengers based on a rigorous set of standards and the Shingo Institute awards the organizations according to their assessment results.
Team members from Abbott will receive the Shingo Prize during the Awards Gala at the 31st Shingo Conference held the week of April 28–May 3, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The conference is a five-day event featuring a selection of workshops, plant tours, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions designed to provide ongoing knowledge, insights, and experience for organizations in their pursuit of operational excellence.
About the Shingo Institute
The Shingo Institute is home of the Shingo Prize, an award that recognizes organizations that demonstrate an exceptional culture that fosters continuous improvement. A program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, the Shingo Institute is named after Japanese industrial engineer and Toyota advisor, Shigeo Shingo. Dr. Shingo distinguished himself as one of the world’s thought leaders in concepts, management systems, and improvement techniques that have become known as the Toyota Production System.
Drawing from Dr. Shingo’s teachings and years of experience working with organizations worldwide, the Shingo Institute developed the Shingo Model™ which is the basis for its several educational offerings, including workshops, study tours, and conferences. Workshops are available in multiple languages through the Institute’s licensed affiliates. For more information on workshops, affiliates, or to register to attend the International Shingo Conference, please visit www.shingo.org/v1.1.
