Celsis Recognized for Transformative Supply Chain Project

CHICAGO, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Celsis International, the global leader in rapid microbial detection, today announced that the company has been selected for inclusion in the 2011 Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE) 100 – "100 Great Supply Chain Projects". This year's awards focus on projects that transformed supply chains and had a significant impact on a company's manufacturing process.

Celsis was selected for its success in improving and streamlining the final product release process for Kao Worldwide, formerly the Andrew Jergens Company, a leading manufacturer of personal care products. As reporter Willliam Atkinson explained in SDCE's August/September 2010 issue, "If there is a way to help the Quality department get its job done faster, then, by definition, the operations process can move along faster, thus reducing time in the supply chain."

Kao Worldwide was looking for a solution that would help them speed up product quality testing in the lab without sacrificing consumer safety. Kao selected the Celsis Advance system, a technology that delivers rapid microbiology results, for quality control and final product release of its hair care, skin care and soap products.

"Since the [Celsis] technology allows us to get micro results in half the time, we are able to release products and ship products pretty much as needed," said Mark Entrup, USA corporate microbiologist for Kao. "This has also reduced our warehouse space significantly," he added. "Instead of having to produce and then stockpile, the technology allows us to produce as orders require."

The Celsis Advance system is designed to help customers improve cash flow and reduce working capital requirements while ensuring quality and increased responsiveness throughout the supply chain.

"Manufacturers are looking for cost efficient ways to streamline operations and reduce inventory requirements. Celsis takes great pride in being able to deliver a unique, innovative solution to help customers save money while getting their products to market quickly and safely," said Celsis CEO Jay LeCoque. "We are pleased to share this award with Kao. It is further proof that a lean Quality department can make important, bottom-line contributions."

By identifying contaminated products faster, companies using Celsis are able to respond faster, preventing more contaminated batches from being manufactured and often preventing contaminated products from being shipped to market in the first place. The system delivers the fastest time to confirm the absence of microbial contamination – the essential information needed to release the vast majority of products quickly -- detecting even slow-growing moulds within 24 hours.

"Our readers count on Supply & Demand Chain Executive for intelligence and decision-making information on solutions and best practices for supply chain transformation," said Andrew K. Reese, editorial director of Supply & Demand Chain Executive. "With this year's Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100, the featured '100 Great Supply Chain Projects' demonstrate the broad spectrum of opportunities for enabling excellence in the supply chain."

Final recipients will be featured in the June 2011 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive, as well as online at www.SDCExec.com.

About Celsis

Celsis Rapid Detection is the world leader in rapid microbial methods.  Utilizing patented enzyme technology, Celsis develops and supplies screening systems (instruments, software, reagents and services) for the rapid detection of microbial contamination in products manufactured for the home and beauty, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Its rapid screening systems provide significant economic value by reducing the time it takes companies to test and release their raw materials, in-process goods and finished products to market. Celsis' extensive client base includes more than 500 active systems in over 50 countries worldwide.

SOURCE Celsis International