Fresenius Medical Care: "Best Factory" contest singles out Schweinfurt production site

For the second time, Fresenius Medical Care AG's Schweinfurt plant has won second place in the annual "Best Factory" competition from French management school INSEAD and the Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management in Koblenz, also known by its German abbreviation WHU. The two schools launched the international, cross-sector contest in 1995 to reward European companies for excellent production management that guarantees a competitive advantage. The Schweinfurt production site from Fresenius Medical Care first won second place in 1999.

"The latest award is a confirmation that the plant is strategically well-positioned for the coming years," said Deputy Plant Manager Rolf Näder. "The employees, the works council and the plant management work together every day to ensure the site's international competitiveness using an efficient and innovative work organization. We are very proud of this." In explaining its decision, the jury praised the Schweinfurt plant's informal communication culture, the close cooperation with the works council and the flexible shifts. "The Company orients its growth strategy towards the worldwide market. Despite being already the market leader it sets itself apart through a high quality level and a strong customer focus," said Professor Arnd Huchzermeier from the WHU.

More than 650 employees develop and produce dialysis machines at the plant, which was founded in 1979. These machines are used to treat the blood. "As the leading innovator and through close cooperation with dialysis clinics, Fresenius Medical Care has played a role in significantly improving the treatment quality and lowered operating costs for providers," said Professor Huchzermeier. Last year, the plant was able to increase the production of dialysis machines for markets outside North America by nearly 20 percent.

The employees at the Schweinfurt plant are organized into groups that operate as independent units within the Company and are responsible for the individual markets. Each team is responsible for costs, inventories, delivery schedules and product quality. "Production department and development sites must rethink their roles and see themselves as service provider for the sales division – this is a demand we meet every day," Näder said. Already in 2000, this strategy led to another international, sector-independent award– the "Global Excellence in Operations Award" from management consultants A.T. Kearney. Already at that time the jury emphasized the plant's exceptionally efficient organization of dialysis machine development and production.

The "Best Factory of 2005" prize will be awarded to the national winners during a management symposium in the fall.