25 March 2026

Smith+Nephew Suzhou site recognised with prestigious Shingo Prize

Smith+Nephew’s manufacturing site in Suzhou, China, has been awarded the Shingo Prize - one of the world’s most respected recognitions for organisational excellence.

The award reflects more than a decade of sustained improvement at the site, with teams strengthening everyday ways of working, leadership behaviours and cross‑functional collaboration. This long‑term focus has helped embed continuous improvement as part of daily operations, enabling consistently high standards of quality, reliability and efficiency for customers and patients worldwide.

Accepting the award, Cindy Duan, Site Lead for Suzhou, said:

“Receiving the Shingo Prize is a powerful validation of the culture our Suzhou team has built together. It’s a testament to our people living our principles consistently, supporting one another, and striving for excellence in everything they do. I couldn’t be prouder of this team and what they’ve accomplished.”

Shingo Prize assessors look beyond tools and processes, focusing on how deeply excellence is embedded across an organisation. For Smith+Nephew, the recognition highlights years of consistent leadership, strong operational systems and a shared commitment to doing the right things, the right way.

“Operational excellence is fundamental to how we deliver for patients and customers around the world, and the Shingo Prize is one of the most rigorous validations of that commitment.” Says Paul Connolly, President, Global Operations.

The Suzhou site supports the company’s Advanced Wound Management portfolio, helping ensure patients receive the products they need safely, efficiently and at scale. Marc Rottink, Senior Vice President, AWM Global Operations, described the recognition as “a proud moment for our Suzhou colleagues and for Smith+Nephew as a whole.”

At its core, the Shingo Prize recognises how people are empowered to improve, solve problems and take ownership of performance - reflecting Smith+Nephew’s ongoing focus on building a global culture of excellence in support of its purpose of Life Unlimited.

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