The Angiographic, Fluoroscopic and Radiographic Systems Unit of Siemens Healthcare took part in the Industrial Excellence competition for "top factory" and recently has been selected as the German and European winner. The international jury gave top grades to the management and employees of the Siemens unit located in Forchheim in all categories, ranging from the business model to strategic implementation and cooperation with customers. The respected prize is given annually by international schools of management and business media in Germany, France, and Spain. The magazine "Wirtschafts-Woche" is the German media partner. "We are proud to be the model for all of Europe this year, said Norbert Gaus, Chief Executive Officer of Angiographic, Fluoroscopic and Radiographic Systems, Siemens Healthcare Sector.
The jurors of the well-known business management schools INSEAD in Fontainebleau and WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar selected the Siemens Unit Angiographic, Fluoroscopic and Radiographic Systems located in Forchheim as the German and overall European winner of the 2009 Industrial Excellence contest. The contest is Europe's most demanding performance comparison of manufacturing plants. This year marked the 13th time for German businesses to participate in the contest, while French enterprises took part for the 15th time. Spanish contestants were represented for the first time this year. The magazine "Wirtschafts-Woche" served as the German media partner.
Siemens Healthcare particularly impressed the jury with the reliability and high availability of the angiographic, fluoroscopic and radiographic systems produced in the Forchheim plant. The Business Unit also scored points with the fact that sales employees provide comprehensive customer consultation, ranging from project design to start-up, and put together individual solutions that optimize the profitability of the systems. The jury considered it a particular strength that Siemens is the only manufacturer to offer a complete system portfolio covering early detection, diagnosis and treatment and aftercare from a single source. Another criterion mentioned in the award was that the factory is able to deliver any of its systems to customers worldwide within four weeks after receiving the order. Customers are allowed to make technical and scheduling changes until two days prior to the production start. "None of our competitors can offer this level of service and flexibility," says Norbert Gaus.
In a production throughput time of just six days, systems are manufactured in zero-defect quality. To ensure the highest quality, the systems are subjected to automated overnight tests for three to five days to simulate typical clinical workloads. This minimizes potential sources of error early on in the production process. Thanks to continuous process improvements, the factory achieved an annual productivity increase of more than ten percent and has cut the average installation time for the systems in half since 2000, i.e. from twelve to six days.
Angiographic, fluoroscopic and radiographic systems from Siemens Healthcare
The Business Unit Angiographic, Fluoroscopic and Radiographic Systems (AX) develops, manufactures, and installs imaging systems for hospitals and medical offices. This includes solutions and systems for angiography, cardiology, fluoroscopy, and radiography. These are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, for instance for minimally invasive procedures to treat patients with constricted or expanded blood vessels.
Siemens is the world market leader in angiographic, fluoroscopic, and radiographic systems. AX delivers some 2,300 customized systems a year, which are composed from 21 different system types. Worldwide, some 23,000 systems are used in universal angiography and angiocardiography, of which some 6,000 were manufactured by Siemens.
For more information on the "Industrial Excellence Award" visit
www.bestefabrik.de
www.industrial-excellence-award.eu
www.meilleure-usine.fr
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- Siemens Healthcare's Profile
About Siemens Healthcare Sector
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the largest suppliers of healthcare technology worldwide. The company is a medical solution provider with core competences and innovative strengths in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as knowledge processing, including information technology and system integration. With its acquisitions in laboratory diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company that combines imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy solutions and medical information technology and also supplements these with consultation and services. Siemens Healthcare offers solutions for the entire supply chain under one roof - from prevention and early detection to diagnosis and on to treatment and aftercare. In addition, Siemens Healthcare is the world market leader for innovative hearing instruments. The company employs some 49,000 employees worldwide and is present in more than 130 countries. During fiscal 2008 (ending on September 30), Siemens Healthcare achieved a total sales volume of 11.17 billion euros and incoming orders totaling 11.78 billion euros. The Sector profit from operations amounted to 1.23 billion euros. For more information, go to: http://www.siemens.com/healthcare