Abbott wins Shingo Prize for Clonmel manufacturing facility

Abbott's vascular devices manufacturing facility in Clonmel, Ireland has been presented with a prestigious international award for operational excellence by the Shingo Institute.

The organisation, which is based at the Jon Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, presented Abbott's Irish site with its Shingo Prize, recognising the site's initiative to develop and maintain continuous improvement to achieve operational excellence.

Established in 1988, the award is given every year to companies that can demonstrate a culture where principles of operational excellence are embedded into the thinking and behavior of all leaders, managers and associates.

In winning this accolade, the company becomes the first organisation in Europe to achieve the standards required to receive the top Shingo Prize.

Chuck Foltz, senior vice-president for vascular conditions at Abbott, said: "Abbott's dedication to excellence is a driving force across all functions and roles, and is central to our development of innovative business solutions so that we can continue to deliver world-class products to our customers."

Last month, the company announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2014, during which it achieved a better-than-expected earnings per share performance.