The employees of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions were named finalists for the Corporate Outreach Award and the Transformation and Operational Excellence Award during the recent South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership Conference in Greenville.
The Corporate Outreach Award honors a manufacturer for making a tangible and measurable impact on communities in South Carolina.
“SRNS employees have a time-honored tradition of supporting those in need, often donating to our local food bank, the Heart Fund, site-wide blood drives, the United Way and Toys for Tots campaigns,” said SRNS President Stuart MacVean. “In addition, multiple teams of employees go out into the community each year with tools, paint, building supplies, rakes, mops and big hearts to help the elderly, impoverished and local non-profit organizations during our Days of Caring.
MacVean also noted that SRNS is pleased to have a significant impact on thousands of area students and educators within K-12 schools and regional two- and four-year colleges and universities through an extensive array of education outreach programs, apprenticeships and memorandums of understanding.
The Transformation and Operational Excellence Award is presented to a company that demonstrates to the business community impressive results achieved through the adoption of continuous improvement and/or operational excellence tools and techniques.
“In October, we were notified that we were one of three finalists for the Transformation and Operational Excellence Award. It was exciting to receive this honor, plus it affirms that our continuous improvement program is on track and steadily progressing,” said Lisa Steed, SRNS productivity specialist/facilitator, continuous improvement.
Steed credits earning the recognition to SRNS management’s strategic vision and strong employee support.
“Continuous improvement is an integral part of our company culture at the Savannah River Site. Every person at SRNS seems to be engaged in continuous improvement in some form or fashion. For me, the achievement validates that my chosen field of work has real value for my employer, which is not something I had experienced with other companies prior to joining SRNS in 2017. I find it to be quite rewarding,” added Steed.
SRNS Corporate Outreach awardees included J. Alex Agyemang, small business liaison officer; Jeff Bryan, senior manager, central procurement material and construction; Chris Caldwell, manager, community outreach; Fred Freeman, director, supply chain procurement; and Mary Rex, senior supply chain management program specialist.
SRNS Transformation and Operational Excellence awardees were Blake Leaphart, principal lean six sigma specialist, continuous improvement; Deanna Smith, information technology business manager; Lisa Steed, productivity specialist/facilitator, continuous improvement; Michael Goffinet, program manager, environmental management operations; and Perjetta “PK” Hightower, director, interface management and continuous improvement manager.
A wide range of companies participated in this year’s competition, including Komatsu America Corporation, Nephon Pharmaceuticals, Nucor Steel, Samsung Electronics and Stanley Black & Decker.
The SCMEP is a private, nonprofit group that serves as a proven resource to South Carolina businesses, providing them with an array of innovative strategies and solutions. An affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, SCMEP operates under the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness.
