ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 6 — Carestream Health won a 2015 Shingo Award for excellence in manufacturing, one of the highest honors bestowed on manufacturing companies. The company’s facility in Yokneam, Israel, was awarded a Shingo Bronze Medallion for its excellence in manufacturing Carestream’s desktop Vita computed radiography (CR) systems and CS 7600 Systems that deliver high-quality intraoral images. A Board of Examiners consisting of over 175 leaders in lean manufacturing carry out the rigorous process of evaluating companies considered for the award.
Lean manufacturing methodology is all about creating more efficient processes that maximize the use of equipment, raw materials and personnel. By committing to this methodology, the facility is able to deliver goods and services with higher quality, fewer defects, and within shorter timelines than traditional production methods.
Installation and performance data is collected from customers across the globe, which enables the plant’s staff to make continuous improvements to the product and the production line.
Carestream’s Vita CR Systems are designed for small-to-midsize hospitals, clinics and practices that need compact digital imaging solutions at an affordable price. More than 20,000 desktop CR Systems have been sold throughout the world. The plant is certified as a Carestream Center of Excellence and is a recipient of the Israel National Quality and Excellence Award.
Shingo Medallions are awarded to companies that demonstrate system-driven business transformation, and recognizes operational excellence in companies that have challenged traditional business paradigms in order to face the challenges of today’s global economy.
The company has won multiple Shingo awards for superiority in “lean manufacturing” methods that optimize quality and consistency while reducing cost. Carestream’s manufacturing facilities in Rochester, N.Y., Guadalajara, Mexico, and Windsor, Colo., have previously won Shingo awards.