Johnson & Johnson Student Development Trek

14 October 2015

The Business Trek was to one of the best performing Pharma Companies in the world, ‘Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited’. This business trek was an opportune moment for all the Masters students in the Business School. Livingston, a very beautiful place in West Lothian, is where the Johnson & Johnson’s Kirkton campus is situated. Ethicon’s heritage has strong roots in UK.

The trip started around 13:00 on 7 October 2015 to the famous and finest manufacturing plant of ‘Ethicon – Johnson & Johnson’. The Kirkton campus boasts the manufacturing of Ethicon products of Johnson & Johnson. Ethicon is one of the most respected brand names in the hospital environment. After one and half hours of travel through the beautiful countryside and farmlands, we reached the Kirkton campus. The Business Trek was more than just a company visit. It was an amazing trip for all the students. The part that I liked best was their 'credo': the values that drive Johnson & Johnson. Simply speaking, credo is what challenges Johnson & Johnson to put the needs and wellbeing of the people that they serve first. Here are few lines from Johnson & Johnson’s credo.

We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses, and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services...

Robert Wood Johnson, former Chairman and a member of company’s founding family, crafted the credo himself in 1943, long before anyone ever heard the term 'Corporate Social Responsibility'.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a very important part of Johnson & Johnson culture. They have been actively working in African countries for the welfare of women and children. Company initiatives such as ‘Care Inspire care’, ‘Strength for caring’, ‘Because we care, we act’ reflects the values of their credo in their work culture.

Kirkton campus has a major role in the revenue generation of Johnson & Johnson. The manufacturing plant mainly manufactures sutures with needle attachments used for the accessibility of the operative area during an operation. Ethicon has a substantial suture manufacturing presence in Scotland at the Kirkton campus facility. The facility specialises in needle attachment, product packaging, and sterilisation. Ethicon product needle attachment can be divided into wide range of types, shapes, lengths, and diameters. Needles can be ‘Round bodied’ needles such as: Taper point, Blunt point, Taper cut. ‘Cutting’ needles are those including: Reverse cutting, Conventional cutting, and Trocar point. And ‘Ophthalmology’ needles are mainly used for side cutting or spatulated pint design.

The sessions at Johnson & Johnson were not only insightful but interactive and intriguing too. The automation machines and expertise to handle the stages of production were absolutely perfect. Every employee in the plant was true to company’s credo. Each and every one of us felt the meaning of true service for Human welfare. I personally recommend such Business Treks to every student in the Business School; such Business Treks not only give you an exposure to an industry but also inspire you to be a part of their work culture. These Business Treks are exciting and full of practical ideas and knowledge.

I was lucky to be a part of this Trek. Thank you for a sui generis trek.

Janmejoy Mukherjee (Joy), MSc International Business and Emerging Markets 2015-16