Saint-Gobain plant is UK’s best factory

Short-listed in no less than six categories, the company scooped four awards, including the overall title Factory of the Year. Presenting the award, Dr Marek Szwejczewski, Director of the Best Factory Awards and one of the panel of judges from Cranfield School of Management, hailed Saint-Gobain Glass as ‘a great example of a modern process plant in action’, saying, ‘This plant demonstrated exemplary performance in all areas.

‘Success comes from having strong leadership, a clear manufacturing strategy, an imbedded culture of continuous improvement, being customer focused, innovating both products and processes, and investing in improving your capabilities - both the people and the technology.’

Alan McLenaghan, Site Director at the winning Saint-Gobain Glass plant, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to have won the Best Factory Award and this success is a true reflection of the skill and commitment of the entire team. To be held up as the best in British manufacturing is a huge achievement for such a young site, especially when the competition included established names such as Gillette, Siemens and Campbell’s Grocery Products. It is just five years since we started production at the plant and in that time we are proud to have set new standards in innovation and operating efficiency within the glass industry.’