MARCH 2013 ISSUE 37 WWW.LAMINARMEDICA.COM

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1: SURVEY UPDATE 2: CHRISTMAS PARTY 3: KEY OBJECTIVES 4: GROUP NEWS 5: PEOPLE NEWS6: LAMINAR NEWS 7: LAMINAR: WASTE MANAGEMENT 8: BRAINWAVES

9: LEARNING @ LAMINAR 10: EH&S FOCUS ON: LIFTING 11: COFFEE BREAK 12: MARKETING UPDATE

As you know we completed our first staff survey in May 2012 and we had encouraging results.

However, it highlighted areas that could be improved upon. Since then some positive changes have been implemented in the way we conduct our business or communicate.

Areas for improvement:

• Communication between departments

• Co-operation between all departments and employees

• Ensuring departmental meetings represent time well spent

What has been implemented so far:

• The format of Stuart’s Quarterly presentations: fewer slides on statistics and more information about what is happening across all the departments and highlighting and sharing success.

• Managers nominate an ‘Unsung hero’. An individual who is acknowledged and recognised where their performance has exceeded what was expected of him or her in their role.

• Performance Management training was carried out to emphasise the value of the Performance and Development Review. Highlighting the need to recognise and value team and individual’s achievements, ensuring staff understand how they contribute to the success of the business.

• Making the Most of Your PDR Meeting booklets were issued to enable staff to understand how we discuss and recognise their progress and achievements.

• Monthly Departmental presentations are now being carried out with the purpose of informing and updating everyone of their contribution, achievements and successes. Particularly communication and how they interact with other departments.

• A review of meetings was concluded and a number of changes have been introduced. This review focused on the value and purpose frequency and communication of the meetings.

Your Views have provided valuable feedback; we will be asking everyone to complete the survey again and hope that we will see improved results in the areas of communication, cooperation and an improvement on time well spent in meetings.

YOUR VIEWSSURVEY UPDATE

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CHRISTMASNIGHT OUT

The setting again was at the local Chiltern Golf and Country Club which this time was under new management. We danced away to The ‘A’ Listers and I think the photos speak for themselves!

Sharon and I hoped you liked the Christmas twist to the raffle prizes this time and well done to Colin Robinson who won both a Chritmas dinner and chocolates! Sadly no one won on the Saturday Christmas National Lottery!Thank you for the recent feedback too. I will let you know when and where the next event will be. - Fiona Knox

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www.laminarmedica.com

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2013 STRATEGIC KEY OBJECTIVES • The development of Laminar’s ‘Cargo’ range of bulk systems

• The formulation of Laminar’s own PCM as part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Sheffield University

• Focus on new business opportunities in Europe with emphasis on: the new cargo systems; development of existing Key Accounts; and targeting of major account new business

• The creation of a Management Panel to review strategic opportunities and feed the NPD Team with a pipeline of new product ideas

• Future Technologies and Capabilities Review to include insulation materials and plant machinery

• Focus on our next phase of overseas expansion including market research and identifying possible partnerships, and review of our US operation.

OTHER ONGOING INITIATIVES • Maintain ‘Investors in People’ and work towards attaining the Silver Award in Quarter 3 2013

• Review of UK Mould Quality by the UK Operations team

• To continue to retire older or limited volume products from production without impacting revenues

• 3rd Party Audits - No Major Non Conformances during 2013

• Review of our current BS 25999 Business Continuity Standard, to meet the requirement of the new International Standard ISO 22301

• To close down all SIR’s (Service Improvement Request) within 5 working days

• Ensure that all staff are aware of our vision, mission, values (VMV) and business objectives. Staff should clearly see the link between their objectives and Laminar’s strategy

• Continue to support the ongoing development of staff through the attainment of NVQs and professional qualifications

• Ensure that the actions arising from the 2012 staff survey are implemented, complete the 2013 Staff Survey (Quarter 2), report on findings and propose further improvements

• Maintain an ethical and environmentally sound purchasing policy

We are all in this together. It is important that we all do what we can to contribute in some waytowards these goals. All of our efforts will count towards the success of Laminar.

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2013 STRATEGICOBJECTIVESPoster distributed on notice boards throughout the company.

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GROUPNEWSIn our last issue, our Group news section focused on Helapet. This edition features SecuriCare and CliniMed.

CliniMed® markets and distributes medical supplies in three key therapy areas Stoma Care, Urology and Continence and Wound Care.

SecuriCare specialise in providing stoma care through their friendly home delivery and support service for ordering supplies. They are committed to providing their patients with intimate stoma and continence care support. They deliver a range of continence care stoma supplies direct to homes anywhere in the UK, efficiently, discreetly and free of charge.

In November 2012 both companies successfully completed an accreditation for the internationally recognised Environmental Management System standard ISO 14001:2004.

In May 2012 SecuriCare launched PharmaCare with the help of SecuriCare employee Janki Rao. PharmaCare is an online pharmacy which provides all customers with their prescriptions or appliances delivered to their door. Although customers were supported for their appliance needs, they still had to make arrangements for their medi-cation. Customers often expressed difficulties of getting out to collect their prescription. Initially the service was offered to carefully selected geographical areas as part of the pilot stage to see how customers would respond to the pharmacy. The uptake was initially slow but pro-vided them with feedback as to what their customers re-ally wanted. Now six months on the customer services team are now talking to patients nationally signing them up to Pharmacare. For more information on Pharmacare enquire by email info@pharmacaremedical.co.uk or visit the website www.pharmacaremedical.co.uk

SecuriCare run a number of exciting events for people with stomas, their carers and health care professionals. These take place in venues across the UK throughout the year.

Patient Event in Surrey 11th Feb

Join SecuriCare for our Patient Eventin Surrey this February

Patient Event at Cannizaro House, London 25th February

Join the SecuriCare Customer Service Team for our Open Day at Cannizaro House, London

Patient Event in Berkshire 26th February

An opportunity to meet with your local SecuriCare Team at our Patient Event in Berkshire.

SecuriCare Ostomates Open Day London 7th March

London Ostomates Open Day: Meet other people with stomas in comfortable surroundings, get advice and product information.

CliniMed run stoma product events across the country throughout the year in association with SecuriCare. Some of their upcoming events for 2013 are:

Ostomates Event Barnard Castle on the 12th March

Ostomates Event Isle of Wight on the 14th March

Ostomates Open day Devon on the 18th March

Ostomates Open day Cheshire on the 21st March

Ostomates Open day Angus on the 3rd April

CliniMed LimitedCavell House | Knaves Beech Way | LoudwaterHigh Wycombe | Bucks | HP10 9QYTelephone: 01628 850100Fax: 01628 850331

SecuriCare (Medical) LimitedCavell House | Knaves Beech Way | LoudwaterHigh Wycombe | Bucks | HP10 9QY

New Customers: 0800 585 125 Existing Customers: 0800 318 965Email: enquiries@securicaremedical.co.uk

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PEOPLE NEWSWELCOME...LAMINAR MEDICA WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME, CONGRATULATEAND SAY GOODBYE TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF STAFF:

Laminar Medica would like to say farewellto the following members of staff:

Pete Humber:Who left us in December 2012Sharon Adams:Who left us in January 2013

Dr Kevin MA(Dr Zhiwei Ma)

Joined us as a:KTP ASSOCIATEIN THER&D DEPTOn the 2nd January

CarolineWOODHOUSE

Joined the:QA DEPT ASA SYSTEMSADMINISTRATOROn the 4th February

MikeHICKS

COMPLETED10 YEARS

SERVICE IN OCT 2012

BobHOSIER

COMPLETED10 YEARS

SERVICE IN MARCH 2013

DaveTAYLOR

COMPLETED10 YEARS

SERVICE IN NOV 2012

Congratulations to Liam Jones who became a father on the 6th March. His Fiancé Tamsin gave birth to a baby girl 6lb 13 oz and they have named her Jemima.

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LAMINARNEWSDAY TRIP TO BRIGHTON On the 22nd September 2012 members of the production team went on a day trip to Brighton. The teams activities included tenpin bowling (Barry Price was the overall winner), games of pool, lunch in a fish and chip restaurant on the pier, and for those not into shopping, relaxing on the beach.

The highlight of my day was mum and I having our photo taken with an Olympic torch on the beach.

The weather was sunny and we had refreshments on the coach, which was much appreciated. Let’s hope we can do it again soon. Everyone enjoyed themselves. I would like to express my thanks to Matt Pryor and Pete Barrow who helped me organise the day.

Michelle Taylor

ARMED FORCES VETS We have two HM Armed Forces Veterans in our midst. Mike Penning, local MP, awarded HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges to Les Shreeve and Mike Hicks in recognition of their services in the UK Armed Forces. A presentation evening was held for over 100+ veterans in Hemel Hempstead Royal British legion.

Les Shreeve: Army - 9 yearsMick Hicks: Navy – 12 years

MOVEMBER Well done and thank you to Andrew Green, Peter Barrow, Paul Johnson, Chris Eyles, Kevin Young, Matt Pryor, James Livingstone (Mike Taylor shaved his off as it was too itchy) and all those for supporting Movember.

THEY RAISED

£187FOR PROSTATE CANCER

TOTAL FOR THE YEAR £344

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LAMINAR WASTE MANAGEMENT

vigilant & make efforts to maintain & capture remaining materials. The next time you are throwing something away ask yourself; what’s in your bin? The following list defines those materials which can be recycled:

• Paper • Card • Plastics, bottles, water cups, films • Drinks cans, aluminium, steel • Envelopes • Magazines & papers

Involvement in Laminar waste reduction programmes help reduce Laminar Medica’s costs & our impact on the environment. For this reason it is important that all departments and individuals continue to do our very best.

Laminar Medica has always had a good record when it comes to recycling its major waste streams. All the cardboard, polystyrene (polythene) & virtually all plastics are recycled.

Since 2009 Laminar Medica has run annual landfill reduction programmes, as part of ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS). An essential part of a programme is to provide feedback. This is provided via a waste performance report, which is produced each month. It considers each department and the types of waste where improvements to recycling can be made. The report is sent by email and posted up on the notice boards.Please take the time to read it!

The source of data used to compile this report is taken from weekly bin checks, which identify the type & amount of materials found within the general waste which can be recycled.

How successful have these programmes been?

Despite the rising costs associated with the management of waste (landfill tax alone has added on average £1000 to our disposal costs each year), Laminar has managed in real terms to reduce its waste handling costs, by introducing improved methods of collection & disposal.

The success we have achieved is due to team effort. Individuals & departments working directly or indirectly with these programmes have made a positive contribution. Examples include the effects of replacing or upgrading equipment & other projects such as those run by the tool setters, where they are tasked to reduce in-process rejects, improving the quality of product. The warehouses have contributed by managing security stocks, avoiding the disposal of time expired cool packs & other products. These are just some examples.

What next?

We have all achieved much in the past four years, helping reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill and ensure we increase our recycling. Although this is a great success, there is still scope to reduce our impact further as demonstrated through the feedback from the monthly reports. It is important that we continue to be

NEW BUSINESS CONTINUITY STANDARD ISO 22301 The Laminar Systems department will be busy this year reviewing our current BS 25999 Business Continuity Standard, to meet the requirement of the new International Standard ISO 22301.

ISO 22301 was released in June 2012. The main changes are Management Commitment, Interested Parties and Legal Compliance. Laminar will be audited for certification to the new standard in Tring in October 2013 and in Vodnany in November 2013.

As an International Standard it is anticipated that ISO 22301 will be more widely accepted and meet the needs of Global Organisations.

Alan White

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Every implemented Brainwaves suggestion will receive an award as follows:

Gold = £50 Silver = £25 Bronze = £15Exceptional suggestions that provide quantifiable cost savings/increased profits will be eligible for a Platinum Award.

This will be calculated at 5% of the net saving after costs, in the first year of operation, up to a maximum of £500.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE MADE SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING!

OUR NEXT REVIEW MEETING WILL BE ON 27TH MARCH 2013

If you have any please post them in the boxes,situated in both Tea-Rooms by the notice board

REMEMBER, THIS IS OPEN TO ALL STAFF(With the exception of Senior Managers, Directors & Committee Members)

Many thanks Pete, Lynne and Paul

The Brainwaves team were busy during the festive season handing out earlyChristmas presents to David Deamer and Ed Fletcher–Wells for their Brainwaves.

David Deamer was given a Silver Award of £25 for his idea to reduce the loose reject bead in the wheelie bins, by taking it to landfill which is a cheaper option than getting shanks to empty the bins every week.

Ed Fletcher-Wells received a Gold Award of £50 for his idea of useof dollies instead of cages in the drying oven for large mouldings.

The Brainwaves team also offered an extra reward which was a bottle bubbly in December for thebest idea in that month. Disappointingly, we did not get any, so David Deamer received that prize too,

since he had come up with the most implemented Brainwave idea’s for 2012.

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LEARNING @ LAMINAR

Some of the production team had 1:1 Excel and Word training to improve their report writing and spreadsheet skills and as a result have become more confident and less reliant on others.

We also carried out all the regular internal and external Health & Safety training to improve processes and to meet the legal requirements such as Fire Warden, manual handling, First Aid, fork lift and counter balance training. Company car drivers completed a Driver Profile and Safety Assessment and company lorry drivers undertook the compulsory LGV CPC Driver training to meet the changes in legislation in 2014.

Learning and Development is about building an individual’s or a team’s future capability to contribute to achieving the company’s vision and strategy.

Developing and enhancing our skills as a business will help to ensure that we can adapt to our customers and the market place to sustain and grow the business.

Fiona Knox

WHAT TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TOOK PLACE AT LAMINAR DURING 2012?Many individuals benefitted through a variety of Learning and Development methods last year such as coaching, project work, attending meetings or conferences as well as online training through Webinars and Podcasts.

Performance Management training was carried out for all Managers and Team Leaders to emphasise the value of the PDR and the setting of objectives that are aligned to the company strategy. The Production Team Leaders and Deputies undertook a series of Skills Development sessions including topics such as communication, problem solving and performance and conflict management. The Directors attended a Leadership Development Programme Revisited which relooked at some of the enduring concepts and techniques from the LDP programme.

Mike Hickey achieved the Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction enhancing his involvement in the strategies for growth initiatives and in the development of the partner network in the US and Asia.

Pete Barrow commenced his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification to gain a greater understanding of lean manufacturing and where savings or efficiencies could be made.

Chloe Hales passed her ISTA Certificate in Packaging at Technologist level gaining industry knowledge and expertise in the physical testing of transport packaging and specifically ISTAs tests. This now enables her to give sound expert advice and testing to our customers.

A number of production staff completed their NVQ Level 2 in Team Leadership (Michelle Taylor, Mike Taylor, James Livingstone, Matt Pryor, Dave Crawford and Liam Jones) and two individuals (Julie Underwood and Ed Fletcher Wells) are currently undertaking NVQ Management Level 3. Jane McGilvray and Lynne Cashen successfully completed their NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration and, Nicole Brown is due to complete hers in 2013 along with Cherri Gentry who is currently completing her Customer Services Level 2.

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E H&S FOCUS ON...

FOLLOWING SOME BACK INJURIES, OF LATE, A REMINDER ON SOME OFTHE KEY LIFTING TECHNIQUES IS IN ORDER. SO PLEASE TAKE A BIT OFTIME TO READ OVER THE FOLLOWING. THIS IS JUST TO JOG YOUR MEMORY, THAT WHEN YOU LIFT ANYTHING, ON WHAT YOU SHOULD DO;

1. STOP AND THINK!• Do I need help?• Where is the load going?• Are there any aids to help me?

2. THE LIFT• Feet apart• Leading leg forward• Bend the knees• Lift in stages• Keep back straight• Keep load close to body• Lean forward a little for good grip• Keep shoulders level

3. DON’T!• Jerk• Overstretch• Twist• Lift loads which are too heavy. Ask for help!

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COFFEEBREAK

SHAPESCan you find the hidden shapes? They may be horizontal,vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

CIRCLE, CONE, CUBE, CUBOID, CYLINDER, DECAGON,DODECAHEDRON, ELLIPSE, HEPTAGON, HEXAGON, NONAGON,OCTAGON, OCTAHEDRON, PARALLELOGRAM, PENTAGON,POLYGON, POLYHEDRON, PRISM, PYRAMID, QUADRILATERAL,RECTANGLE, RHOMBUS, SEMICIRCLE, SPHERE, SQUARE,TETRAHEDRON, TRAPEZIUM, TRIANGLE.

GUESS WHO? ______________________________

1. Where is your ideal holiday destination? Barbados (best holiday of my life with Helen, we went there for our Honeymoon)

2. What is your favourite meal? Difficult one, I like so many, but if I had to choose one last meal before my execution I would have: Starter: Prawns wrapped in Smoked Salmon, Main: Escalope Milanese, Desert: Crème Brulee – YUM YUM!

3. If you had to describe yourself in three words which three would you use? Outspoken, Funny and Stubborn

4. What fashion trend you followed was very cool then but ridiculous now? Mods! They are were cool and still are cool!

5. If you chose to have a tattoo, what would your tattoo look like and where would it be? I have one so don’t need to think about where one would go or what it would look like.

6. If you had to choose a super power which one would you choose? X-ray Vision!

7. If you made a movie of your life what kind of movie would it be and who would be cast as you? Is your life an adventure, drama, romance or horror flick? Adventure with a bit of Horror and Comedy thrown in...

8. If you won the lottery what would you do with all the cash? Buy Laminar and make a few changes!

9. If you could have taken a different path in life, what would you have chosen to do, knowing what you know today? Dentist/ Lawyer/Brain Surgeon - Someone who makes serious money!

Fill out two puzzles to be in with a chance to win a £20 M&S voucher. All entries are to be handed to Hannah in the Sales & Marketing office