Innovation
At ASCO, innovation is a state of mind. It has to be instinctive – it’s not ok to stand still. There is always room for improvement and looking at new ways of doing this.
Built into our ASPIRE programme, is the need for all our people to realise their full potential. That means challenging the status quo, finding new solutions to working more effectively and efficiently on behalf of our customers.
The Explorer programme has been exclusively designed for ASCO. Its ethos lies in the determination of our people to generate innovative ideas and new ways of working that will directly improve the customer experience.
Explorer workshops, facilitated by our own trained staff, have generated numerous ideas such as Kinesys – ASCO’s break-through web-based information system. Enviroco, ASCO’s waste management company invented a new, environmentally friendly mud treatment process which reduced landfill by 80% compared to traditional means of disposal.
In 2008, an award-winning safety initiative for Shell, re-thought the ergonomics of a base layout reducing vehicle movements and creating a far safer working environment.
ASCO EXPLORER
Over the last few decades there have been lots of studies on the key factors that underpin business success. As well as being really customer focused and having a clear strategy, a genuine commitment to business improvement and innovation comes out as one of the defining characteristics of consistently successful businesses.
That’s why the ASCO Group places such a high priority on innovation and business improvement – alongside our commitment to safety and the quality of our customer service, our performance on innovation and business improvement will be critical to our future success.
Innovation and business improvement comes in various guises. It’s not just about big breakthroughs – it’s also about all the small things that add up to a big difference. It’s about doing things differently and better for our customers – and it’s also about doing things more efficiently and effectively within our business. Because innovation and business improvement touches everything, we all have a role to play and a responsibility to get really focused on how we can do things better.
Explorer – All Part of the Service!
ASCO’s Explorer Programme has been created to establish a demonstrable and results-focused channel for our core business ethos of innovation. Innovation in all that we do has benefits internally and externally, being both expected by our customers and stakeholders, and welcomed by our staff as a unique way to effectively inspire and engage. As a result, the practice of innovation gives us real opportunity for competitive advantage.
Explorer is therefore a key conduit towards our vision of market leadership. Cost-effective and easily applied across all our businesses, it helps create an environment focused on and positive about change, which in turn promotes our leading edge in the marketplace where we operate.
In practical terms, ASCO has created and trained Business Innovation Coaches. As key Ambassadors for our Explorer programme, the coaches are embedded in all areas of our business at grass-roots level. They work with our staff and encourage innovative thinking at all levels within the ASCO business.
Participation and success in the programme, at both idea and implementation stage, leads to individual recognition, thereby generating increased motivation and productivity.
As the Explorer programme builds momentum in our business, there are opportunities not only to embrace innovative new ideas but also to recognise best practice in all that we do.
But it’s not just staff that can support innovation. ASCO consults its customers and the Supply Chain and at every opportunity involves them in Explorer sessions. This approach, makes a significant and lasting impact on not only our business at ASCO, but that of our customers.
Explorer helps to create a culture focused on positive change, placing ASCO at the leading edge of innovative thinking and action.