Boston Scientific has announced that its Cork, Ireland manufacturing facility received the 2016 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing from the Shingo Institute, part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.
The Shingo Prize is based on a thorough assessment of organizational culture and operations.
"The Shingo Prize is our most prestigious honor to recognize companies that demonstrate broad application of lean principles across core business processes and a leadership commitment to build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement," said Ken Snyder, executive director at the Shingo Institute. "We congratulate Boston Scientific for establishing a strong culture anchored on these principles and for empowering all employees to play a role in driving business success."
The Boston Scientific Cork facility manufactures products that treat conditions in the cardiac and peripheral vasculature and gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. With an annual output of more than 5 million medical device units per year, the Boston Scientific Cork site reports that it has reduced quality incidents and plant cycle times while increasing productivity. Boston Scientific also states that the site is a zero landfill plant with 84 percent direct recycling.
"We are honored to receive the Shingo Prize, which is recognized around the world as a symbol of enterprise excellence," said Sean Gayer, vice president, Operations, for the Boston Scientific facility in Cork. "This achievement is the result of a team commitment to challenge ourselves to drive quality, increase efficiency and create value for customers by delivering innovative processes and products that help patients around the world."
Boston Scientific has received previous Shingo recognition for operational excellence, including a 2015 Bronze Medallion awarded to its facility in Coyal, Costa Rica and a 2014 Silver Medallion and 2005 Shingo Prize for the company's Maple Grove, Minn., site.
For more information, visit the websites for Boston Scientific and the Shingo Institute.