Golden Valley, Minnesota
August 21, 2008
Syngenta Seeds, Inc.
and Enterprise
Minnesota announced yesterday a collaboration to develop a
Lean Product Design and Development training program for the
Syngenta Research and Molecular Marker Laboratory located in
Stanton, Minnesota.
The announcement was made at a kick-off event to celebrate a
$43,000 grant from the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP),
administered through Enterprise Minnesota, to provide training
for up to 70 Syngenta employees. The training will incorporate
curriculum development, classroom training and train-the-trainer
sessions exemplifying the company’s strong commitment to the
professional development of its employees. The two organizations
signed the grant agreement yesterday at the Syngenta facility in
Stanton.
Lean Product Design and Development addresses practical, easily
applied techniques for reducing design and development costs.
Firms that have adopted similar Lean techniques report nearly a
50 percent reduction in launch schedules, dramatic improvements
in gross margin, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
“As an agriculture company committed to sustainable business
practices, Syngenta is continuously looking for ways to improve
efficiencies, maximize performance and eliminate waste,” said
Ray Riley, vice president, Corn & Soybean Research and
Development, Syngenta Seeds. “We’re proud to support the
continued skill development of our research staff. Embracing
Lean Product Development and Design techniques will allow us to
streamline processes and deliver better products faster.”
Syngenta Seeds has actively adopted Lean techniques in its
Supply Chain at six locations, delivering significant gains in
efficiency by providing employees an opportunity to innovate and
challenge existing practices. The company is determining whether
to replicate the program at other locations to capitalize on the
expertise and experience gained in this stage of the program.
“This is the type of program that is ideally suited to propel
Minnesota’s bioscience and agribusiness prominence,” said Robert
H. Kill, president and CEO of Enterprise Minnesota. “It is a
commitment to research and development in a dynamic sector of
our state’s economy.”
The Syngenta Seeds Lean Design and Product Development training
program will launch in October 2008 at the Stanton facility with
implementation through June 2009.
Enterprise Minnesota is a 501(c) 3 non-profit consulting
organization that helps Minnesota manufacturing enterprises grow
profitably. Chartered by the Minnesota State Legislature in
1987, Enterprise Minnesota is an affiliate of the U.S.
Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership) (MEP).
Enterprise Minnesota offices are located in Minneapolis,
Bemidji, Duluth, Moorhead, and Owatonna.
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to
sustainable agriculture through innovative research and
technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and
ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in
2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over
21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on
the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further
information is available at
www.syngenta.com.
NK® and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a
Syngenta Group Company.
Garst® is a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company.
Golden Harvest® is a registered trademark of Golden Harvest
Seeds, Inc. |
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