Smith & Nephew Medical Suzhou Limited Awarded Prestigious Shingo Prize 

March 6, 2026 – the Shingo Institute

Smith & Nephew Medical Suzhou Limited Awarded Prestigious Shingo Prize 

LOGAN, UTAH—March 6, 2026—The Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, is proud to announce that Smith & Nephew Medical Suzhou Limited in Suzhou, China has achieved the Shingo Prize, the world’s highest recognition for organizational excellence. This achievement reflects Smith & Nephew Medical Suzhou Limited’s unwavering commitment to principled leadership, disciplined execution, and creating a culture centered on creating lasting value for employees, communities, and customers.

“Receipt of the Shingo Prize is a globally recognized symbol that an organization has successfully established a culture anchored in principles of enterprise excellence,” said Ken Snyder, Executive Director of the Shingo Institute. “Smith & Nephew Medical in Suzhou has demonstrated an impressive commitment to building systems and behaviors that consistently deliver results.”

Smith & Nephew, a global medical technology company founded in 1856 and headquartered in London, develops advanced solutions across orthopedics, endoscopy, and wound management. The Suzhou site was established in 2007 as the company’s first manufacturing facility in mainland China, representing a significant milestone in Smith & Nephew’s regional growth and global supply network. Smith & Nephew Medical Suzhou Limited plays a central role in manufacturing the company’s advanced wound‑care portfolio, including proprietary silicone-based dressings and other patented products, exporting to more than 100 countries. Over nearly two decades, the site has expanded production capacity through multiple plant and line additions while maintaining rigorous quality systems aligned to the strict regulatory demands of the medical device sector. Today, the facility is one of the region’s key medical technology employers and a significant contributor to Suzhou’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Smith & Nephew Medical Suzhou Limited has earned multiple recognitions that reflect its commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and employee well‑being. These include the Suzhou 3A Green Factory designation, provincial-level Intelligent Manufacturing Workshop certification, and successful completion of the 2023 Suzhou Healthy Enterprise assessment, confirming excellence in occupational health management. Grounded in robust management systems, deep employee engagement, and an active culture of continuous improvement, the site’s disciplined approach to problem‑solving, respect-centered culture, and consistent delivery of high‑quality medical products demonstrate the behaviors expected of Shingo Prize recipients.

The achievement of the Shingo Prize is ultimately made possible by the people who bring principles to life each day. The following testimonials provide additional perspective on the systems, behaviors, and cultural foundations that contributed to this recognition:

Since implementing the Shingo Model at our site, we have observed a profound cultural transformation toward operational excellence characterized by deep respect for every individual, relentless pursuit of continuous improvement, and constant commitment to aligned, purpose-driven objectives. This shift has obviously enhanced organizational performance and strengthened our capacity for long-term, sustainable growth.

Receiving the Shingo Prize is a great honor for Smith & Nephew. It is also an important milestone of our global operational excellence journey. We will take this as a new starting point and continue to deepen organizational transformation, with the determination to pursue perfection and create value for our customers

Cindy Duan, Site Leader