Oxoid, a manufacturer of microbiological culture media and diagnostic products, has won first prize in the logistics and supply chain category of the prestigious 2005 Manufacturer Awards
Oxoid triumphed over stiff competition from more than 100 other entrants having been short-listed alongside Land Rover and Johnson Diversey in the category Logistics and Supply Chain.
In selecting Oxoid to win the logistics and supply chain award, a 12-strong judging panel made up of industrialists, academics and business journalists said that the company "has developed a very comprehensive supply chain strategy for a complex series of products serving an international customer base".
"We should all be very proud and accept this recognition for the efforts and contribution of everyone in our operations division", says Eva Agnew, Oxoid's head of operations.
"We run a very complex supply chain, keeping approximately 1200 standard products in stock in addition to producing 1700 made-to-order custom products, using 1300 raw materials and components and delivering these to 30,000 customers world wide.
"Some 280,000 order lines a year are despatched from our factory in Basingstoke.
"Receiving the award is recognition of the individual efforts made by Oxoid staff, all of which add up to making our supply chain run the way it does.
"We strive for continuous improvement in our quest for world-class performance, and this achievement recognises the improvements we have made over the years in many different areas.
"These encompass getting raw materials here on time, planning to make the right products in the right quantities, producing them to schedule, keeping machines running efficiently, managing stocks, processing our customers' orders and despatching goods on time".
Agnew and her colleague Richard Wood (Oxoid's planning manager) were presented with a trophy and certificate at the recent Manufacturer Live gala dinner and awards ceremony.
The Manufacturer Awards are staged annually by The Manufacturer magazine, sponsored by a range of blue chip companies and supported by the UK's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The scheme aims to celebrate world class achievement in UK manufacturing.
The logistics and supply chain category was sponsored by business improvement consultant Oliver Wight.
This is the second year running that Oxoid has won a prestigious award of this nature.
In 2004, the company won the Judges' Special Award in the Best Factory Awards run by Cranfield University and Works Management magazine.
On that occasion, the Works Management judges commended "the clear and structured process by which Oxoid translates its objectives of product excellence, customer service, employee satisfaction and lowest cost into a successful manufacturing strategy."
