Improvus AB

Excellence, all the way...

Fredrik Lidén, Linde Gas Division, Manager of Market Segment Pharmaceutical Industry

Linde Gas is a world-leading supplier of industrial gases and process systems to the international pharmaceutical industry. Fredrik often consults Improvus for such things as product development and process-system production, as well as quality assurance.

What is important for you in choosing a subsupplier/consultant?
"Nowadays, you often talk about price/performance, which is a rather good, comprehensive term with regard to choosing a consultant. For us, briefly, it’s a matter of what we get back when we invest in a consultant project".

What is a good investment for you?
"Well, it all starts with the selection process for a consultant, whereby references, expertise, and recommendations are decisive early on. During the work itself, the ability and the drive necessary to manage the project independently is a vital factor. Short takeoff stretches are always something that influences judgement in choosing consultants".

Do you do like many other companies these days, that is, prefer to buy expertise rather than employ personnel?
"No, I can’t claim that. We are a big company, but my department is relatively small, which means that additional overhead costs are tough to get through. That’s why our solution to engage consultants is the best possible one".

Are some projects more suitable than others when using consultants?
"When know-how gaps exist in your own organization, or for isolated instances".

You turned to Improvus to implement your quality-management system in accordance with ISO 9001:2000. What was important in order to succeed with that project?
"A good understanding of how to carry out activity analyses and modeling, and the documentation of routines and methods, and not least, of how to get people to understand and live up to a quality-management system of this kind".

What were the results?
"The goal was to pass an audit. Now, we’ve passed two, and with only having to carry out minor adjustments. This, I think, gives Improvus a very good grade".

You have also entrusted Improvus with another project whereby they became more actively involved with your customer. Can you tell more about that?
"It involved one of our pharmaceutical customers in Holland. It was here that Improvus assumed a leading role in the project, and also served as our customer contact. We sold a system, and Improvus participated not only in the project’s planning and execution, but also in its follow-up. We normally don’t allow consultants total access such as becoming a customer contact. But, because Improvus had such an intimate knowledge of the product and the surrounding services, they were given the responsibility for carrying it all out".

What were the results?
"For the department as a whole, it was a success. And, with the know-how that Improvus picked up during the project itself, we were able to offer solutions and improvements that resulted in an additional job from the same customer".

Are you good at providing feedback and in getting feedback from your consultants once the job is finished?
"Here there is a potential for improvement, but at the same time, it should be remembered that many of our projects are ongoing and not always tied to any schedule. We also carry out continual cross-checks throughout the project".

Link to Linde Gas, Pharmaceutical Industry
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Improvus AB, Dalénum 11, SE-181 70 Lidingö, SWEDEN, Phone: +46 (0) 8 731 71 17

Improvus AB, Dalénum 31, SE-181 70 Lidingö, SWEDEN, Phone: +46 (0) 8 731 71 17