Saint‐Gobain Glass gains clear benefits from training: Impact felt on productivity, quality, sales and safety

Abstract

Purpose

Describes how Saint‐Gobain Glass UK Ltd trained 30 recruits – mainly people with no experience of the glass industry – to work at a green‐field site being developed at Eggborough, Yorkshire, to manufacture a new range of environmentally‐friendly glass.

Design/methodology/approach

Presents the comments of the skill‐development co‐ordinator and other Saint‐Gobain Glass UK Ltd staff.

Findings

Details how the team – who were trained as team leaders, quality, maintenance or stacking operators – became competent in 200 procedures necessary to run the line.

Practical implications

Shows that the new plant opened on time and on budget, meeting some stretching targets, including no lost‐time accidents. Sales and quality performance are well ahead of target.

Originality/value

Reveals that the company has safely installed an entirely new plant using inexperienced people, and successfully launched Saint‐Gobain Glass UK soft‐coat products on to the market. Saint‐Gobain plants worldwide now use Saint‐Gobain Glass UK Ltd to train their managers.

Citation

(2006), "Saint‐Gobain Glass gains clear benefits from training: Impact felt on productivity, quality, sales and safety", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 14 No. 5, pp. 13-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730610678208