OREANDA-NEWS. Our company's Clydach Refinery in the United Kingdom has just received a Silver Medallion at the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence, dubbed the "Nobel Prize of Manufacturing" by the North-American magazine Business Week.

The Clydach Refinery is one of the largest in Europe and produces high-purity nickel and subproducts for specialist areas, such as car components, batteries, nickel plates and nonferrous alloys. In operation since 1902, the factory produces around 40,000 metric tons of nickel products per year and supplies around 280 clients in over 30 countries across the world (in Europe, Asia and the US).

This is the first time that a UK company has been awarded the prize, which was created 25 years ago, and just one European company had been previously recognized. "This prize is a recognition of the many years of work performed by everyone at the site to improve safety, quality, productivity and efficiency," said Mike Cox, General Manager of Vale Europe. "This sets our refinery as an international benchmark in the industry and provides a solid base for our success in the long term.”

Shingo Prize

The name of the awards is a tribute to Dr. Shigeo Shingo, who was fundamental in the development of the Toyota Production System. The Shingo Institute recognizes excellence in organizations across the world, and its philosophy is that high-level performance in quality, cost and delivery can be reached through the application of tools for continuous improvement, and by core manufacturing techniques and business procedures.