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Tuesday, 13 May 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
3M Sri Lanka, the fully-owned local subsidiary of the $ 30.8 billion global innovation giant, 3M Company, is celebrating 20 years of operations in Sri Lanka.
The company outlined that its focus on innovation for the Sri Lanka market will continue to drive growth for its operations. The company also shared that developing and offering customer market focused solutions for more effective and successful customer outcomes will be the key to driving growth and increased market penetration. 3M reiterated its commitment to advancing, enhancing and improving the lives of its stakeholders in Sri Lanka.
Fundamentally, a diversified technology company, 3M employs its patented 46 technology platforms to develop innovation solutions to address diversified market needs across industry segments.
Speaking on the occasion of 3M’s 20th year milestone in Sri Lanka, Suren R. Rajanathan, Country Head, 3M Sri Lanka, said: “We are at the cusp of an exciting period, not only in the company’s journey but in our country’s journey as well. Following the post-war euphoria, our Government has set out a clear path for growth in the future that has resulted in exponentially increased development year-on-year. 3M with its presence in several key industries is uniquely positioned to capitalise on this momentum to address the growth needs of our county.”
Innovative solutions
Over the years, 3M has built on its relationships with Government institutions and private businesses to bring innovative solutions to the customer table. These partnerships and events have accelerated the advancement of Sri Lanka’s businesses as well as Sri Lankan lives.
3M’s Safety & Graphics Business Group has been working with companies and government authorities to set standards and industry benchmarks to improve worker safety standards in the country. 3M works very closely with the Industrial Safety Division of the Department of Labour to promote workplace safety towards establishing a safety culture in Sri Lanka. To enhance safety on the roads, 3M’s raised pavement markers, median markers and reflective signages are being installed by road contractors, municipals and the Road Development Authority across the country.
Addressing core security issues for the country are 3M’s passport readers and reflective films for license plates that are equipped with enhanced security features to prevent tampering.
3M’s Industrial Business Group helps the core Sri Lankan apparel industry to participate and compete on a global platform with advanced technological and innovative solutions.
In keeping with the needs to reduce its carbon footprint, 3M’s Renewable Energy solutions work with a number of manufacturing facilities to make them more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Empowering healthcare professionals
Towards its mission to provide quality healthcare to the people of Sri Lanka, 3M Healthcare empowers healthcare professionals by providing them access to discussion forums and continuous medical education programs on global standards and best practices. 3M’s ongoing effort is to help prevent and control infection related morbidity and mortality, thus raising the standards of quality healthcare imparted at hospitals and reducing the cost of care linked to healthcare associated infection.
To address a critical need, 3M Sri Lanka has leveraged its advanced wound management expertise, to enter into a public-private sector collaboration to set-up dedicated diabetic wound management clinics, whose services extend the length and breadth of the country.
To keep pace with the rapidly advancing and evolving standards of the telecommunications industry, 3M is one of the very few companies to provide a certified training and development on global standards with a view of upgrading industry practices.
Innovation part of 3M DNA
At 3M, innovation is driven by its employees and the company believes that people play an important role in ensuring that its innovation DNA is always alive and thriving.
Nishanthi Fonseka, Head of HR, 3M Sri Lanka said: “3M Sri Lanka has in place several initiatives aimed at developing diverse high performing teams, at the heart of which is 3M’s famous 15% rule – wherein employees are encouraged to spend up to 15% of their time to pursue projects outside their scope of work. Moreover, 3M’s recognition programs, its employee fair practices, its rewards system, its focus on work-life balance helps the company attract top talent from across the country and plays a big role in retention and engagement.” 3M is globally recognised by the Chief Executive magazine, as being amongst the top 10 companies worldwide for leaders to work at. To ensure a robust leadership pipeline, 3M Sri Lanka has in place a program aimed at identifying high-potential employees to be developed for leadership roles within the company. These employees have a defined and chalked out development path.
Strength and reach of partner network
Speaking of the many relationships 3M has forged over the past 20 years, Suresh Anandappa, Head of Marketing, 3M Sri Lanka said: “Our depth of products and multitude of solutions have always made us an attractive option to customers. At a time when companies are looking to streamline supply chains and increase efficiency, we offer them the option of reducing and consolidating their supplier base.”
He added: “Our focus on the customer and innovative solutions to their everyday problems makes us an invaluable part of their lives. Our more than 30 business partnerships allow us to reach every community across the island and we fully intend to harness the trust and experience we have gained in the past two decades to forge the next two decades and beyond. It has been a phenomenal time but we’re only just beginning.”
