GlaxoSmithKline and Pretium Packaging Build Supplier Partnerships through Green
Belt Training
GSK's St. Louis site recently awarded their first Green Belt certification to a
vendor associate, Mark Winkelmann, Regional Sales Manager for Pretium Packaging,
after Mark completed a project on Improving the Process for Receiving and
Approval of Pretium Material by the St. Louis site.
As part of their Vision Factory initiative, the St. Louis site identified
increasing supplier partnerships as a key to being able to achieve their Future
State 1 vision.
One of the ways that they have done this is by inviting associates from some of
their key suppliers to attend their Leading and Managing LeanSigma training and
progress through the site’s Green Belt certification program. In 2006, Pretium
Packaging, the primary bottle and cap supplier for the site, took them up on the
offer and sent six of their associates to the training.
In addition, the St. Louis OE group assisted Andy Chapman, LeanSigma Master
Black Belt, CH Procurement, in facilitating the Pretium baseline activity.
Several projects, including Mark's, came out of this activity. The project
focused on eliminating redundant activities, improving communication between the
two companies and eliminating non-value added activities within the process. The
benefits from this project include an estimated 429 labor hours per year saved
for Pretium and 318 labor hours saved per year for GSK. In addition, this
project improved the speed to the line for Pretium bottles and caps by allowing
all bottles and caps to arrive at the St. Louis plant already approved and ready
for use.
Andy Chapman of GSK commented, "This Greenbelt award is the result of a joint
effort between Pretium, CH Procurement and the St Louis manufacturing site, and
it is the first Green belt we have awarded to a supplier. Pretium, St Louis and
Procurement realized the benefits from a joint OE approach with training, Value
Stream Mapping and resulting improvement activity. It is therefore great to see
Pretium being recognized with this award since their enthusiasm with the OE
approach and desire to make a difference has been exceptional throughout. We
look forward to continued support with OE."
Pretium Packaging is a St. Louis, Missouri headquartered supplier of PET & HDPE
blow molded containers to the food, beverage, chemical, personal care and
pharmaceutical markets. Operating 10 manufacturing facilities across the US and
in Eastern Canada, Pretium supplies containers ranging in size from .85 oz /
25mL to 3 gallon / 11.7L.
GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and
healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by
enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company
information, visit GlaxoSmithKline on the World Wide Web at
www.gsk.com