First Water taps into business-improvement techniques
Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 45, Issue 7
A training company has worked with a manufacturer of high-performance wound dressings and skin adhesives to implement business-improvement techniques (BIT) levels 2 and 3 in the workplace.
First Water, based in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, is committed to core technology that encompasses a proprietary range of biocompatible super-absorbent polymers that has helped to establish the business as a technical leader in the sector.
The need to ensure that employees continually focused on innovation, efficiency and quality meant that staff development emerged as a key area of investment. Using training company Business Impact, training in levels 2 and 3 BIT was implemented easily in the business. Teams are now empowered to improve quality and efficiency in all production.
The training program is built around core best practice in business management. It supplements job-specific qualifications. Covering all the principles of lean-enterprise, it helps to eliminate waste, reduce costs and boost productivity, while maintaining a commitment to quality.
Level 2 qualifications offer cross-functional knowledge that helps learners to gain an understanding of lean-enterprise principles and develops the practical skills that deliver work-based results. For an organization at the leading edge of technology, it provides a focus for staff across the business to apply continuous-improvement methods.
Mark OBrien, Head of Operations at First Water, commented: “We are committed to continuous improvement and have used Business Impact effectively to develop our internal teams through BIT level 2 and level 3. Our sector is driven by innovation, quality and high-level compliance. These are all enhanced when your internal team is highly proficient in BIT, as team members work more closely together to find the best solutions for the customer.
David Steel, from Business Impact, commented: “We have many synergies with First Water, so from the start of our training we could see the benefits to the business. The team at First Water was outstanding in its commitment to BIT.
