Sandoz, a part of which is Lek, receives a German award for the best idea management
- Sandoz was awarded the best idea management prize, bestowed by the German Institute for Idea Management. Lek, a Sandoz company, has proven to be a strong contributor to this award by generating 35 percent of all ideas at Sandoz.
- The project of generating ideas among the associates, »Th!nk Sandoz«, that has been implemented at Sandoz on a global scale, was started off in Slovenia as a pilot for the entire Sandoz in 2012.
- At Lek, a Sandoz company, the employees have submitted more than 3,600 ideas in less than four years, generating savings of more than EUR 20 million.
The pharmaceutical company Sandoz, a part of which is Lek, has won the first place in the category »The Best Ideas Management in Germany«, an award, bestowed by the German Institute for Idea Management. Sandoz was awarded for the project of collecting ideas among the associates, »Th!nk Sandoz«, that has been implemented at Sandoz on a global scale and was started off in Slovenia as a pilot for the entire Sandoz. Lek, a Sandoz company, has proven to be very successful in this project, as its associates have submitted more than 3,600 ideas in slightly less than four years and generated savings of more than EUR 20 million.
Birgit Keis, Head of Idea Management at Sandoz, and Darja Ferčej Temeljotov, Head of Innovation at Lek, as a representative of one of the most successful companies within Sandoz with regard to submitting and managing ideas, attended the award ceremony, which was held in Berlin.
»The Th!nk Sandoz initiative grows steadily and supports our business. Around 22,000 associates from 12 countries at 29 sites participate currently in the initiative and more are to join soon. Since 2012, when this project of idea management was introduced at Lek as a pilot version for the entire Sandoz, the associates in Slovenia have been continuously very successful. They generate 35 percent of all ideas at Sandoz and are therefore largely responsible for winning this award,« explained Birgit Keis.
Idea management supports and improves the business
Today, Lek, a Sandoz company, contributes around 35 percent of all received ideas within Sandoz and 42 percent of all implemented ideas that have so far generated 50 percent financial benefits at a global level. This proves that the innovation culture is embedded in all pores of the organization. In 2015 alone, the associates submitted 1,174 new ideas, contributing to savings of more than EUR 7.7 million. »The collection of ideas comprises of minor and major suggestions of all kinds, for improvements of processes, products, services, quality, safety, internal procedures and work environment. Our ideas and improvements are well recognized also on a global scale within Sandoz. Therefore, the credit for the award goes to all our associates who continuously observe and think about potential improvements in their work,« said Darja Ferčej Temeljotov.
»At Lek, innovation is one of our core values and more than 3,600 submitted ideas in less than four years prove that we really live this value. In each of us, there are many unrevealed ideas and suggestions for potential improvements. In order to achieve such good results, a systematic and structured approach is required as well as encouragement of the associates at all levels. Also important is a work environment that encourages and recognizes innovation. At Lek, this culture is at a very high level and here we can look for our key performance indicators,« said Bojan Lauko who is responsible for innovation, quality and productivity at Penicillin Production site at Lek, a Sandoz company, in Prevalje.
Lek, a Sandoz company, is one of the key pillars of the second-largest generic pharmaceutical company globally. Its role within Sandoz is to act as: a leading global development center for technologically demanding products and technologies; a key global manufacturing center for active pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines; a competence center for the development of vertically integrated products; a Sandoz competence center in the field of development and manufacturing of biosimilar active ingredients and products; a supply center for the markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), South East Europe (SEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and is responsible for marketing and sales of Sandoz products on the Slovenian market. For further information, please visit http://www.lek.si/en.
Sandoz, a Novartis company, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, driving sustainable access to high-quality healthcare. Sandoz supplies a broad range of affordable, primarily off-patent products to patients and customers around the globe. The Sandoz portfolio comprises approximately 1,100 molecules, which accounted for 2015 sales of USD 9.2 billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area. The company holds leading global positions in biosimilars as well as in generic anti-infectives, ophthalmics and transplantation medicines.
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 119,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
This press release contains statements and conclusions based on projections of Lek’s future business operations. These estimates are derived from the best information currently available. In case these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results could prove different from those projected.
For additional information contact:
Katarina Klemenc
Corporate Communications
Lek Pharmaceuticals d. d.
Phone: +386 1 580 22 43
Fax: +386 1 580 24 32
katarina.klemenc@sandoz.com
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Gregor Makuc
T: +386 1 580 22 43
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