Syngenta Seeds, Inc. and Enterprise Minnesota Kick-Off Collaboration
Lean Product Design and Development Training Program to Increase Efficiencies, Reduce Waste
Minneapolis, MN (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, Minn.
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 Lean 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
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This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor.
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