Tailor-made training: Advipro helps Estée Lauder shine in the cleanroom
- Alain Deloof
- Manager GxP Academy
Advipro's GxP Academy has worked with Estée Lauder to prepare them to manufacture cosmetic products in a cleanroom to meet Chinese government requirements under the CSAR (Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation).
Estée Lauder's Belgian site in Oevel has made substantial investments to convert their production environment to a cleanroom environment. Estée Lauder called on Advipro's expertise for training and guidance to work in this new cleanroom environment. Alain Deloof, manager GxP Academy, tells us all about the collaboration.
tailor-made training
The starting point for tailor-made training? This is always a comprehensive analysis with the client to understand their needs and discuss ideas for training. With Estée Lauder's limited information and Advipro's expertise, in the spring of 2023, we created a customised training course within a few weeks, focusing on Estée Lauder's specific needs and the importance of appropriate behaviour in a cleanroom environment.
After the development, it was soon time for the effective training on cleanroom behaviour itself. Estée Lauder chose to train a group of 'ambassadors' through the 'train the trainer' principle, so that they could later support the implementation in the workplace. All training sessions took place at our unique GxP Academy in Lille.
The questions and feedback during the theoretical sessions and practical exercises were carefully documented for further discussion within the Estée Lauder project team.
Creating support for "change"
These learning sessions with the ambassadors were an important first step to initiate the 'change' and create support for the implementation during the summer months. The positive feedback from the trainees motivated us to continue with the process. In May 2023, a shortened version of the cleanroom behavioural training was given to employees with coordinating roles within various production departments. Again, the response was enthusiastic and they asked practical questions that were discussed within the different project teams.
In the follow-up process, we had the opportunity to train hundreds more Estée Lauder employees. For many employees, the transition to a cleanroom environment is a significant change in procedures, such as the changing process and material transfer.
To smooth this transition, we developed and delivered a short training course on cleanroom behaviour and awareness, highlighting key points. The use of a PAL (Personnel Air Lock) and MAL (Material Air Lock) were new concepts for most employees. The diversity of participants from different production areas made the training sessions engaging, each with their own questions and concerns about the impact on their tasks.
Fortunately, as a trainer, I had previous experience in change management and guiding departments during change processes. Together with the Estée Lauder team, this made the implementation successful. Different stakeholders within Estée Lauder were strongly involved in the training process. The close cooperation and brainstorming sessions with Estée Lauder to realise this training plan were intense, but extremely valuable.
Advipro is pleased with this productive collaboration, in which we were able to make a significant impact in Estée Lauder's implementation plans in a short period of time.
"You are our hero in the cleanroom! Thank you so much for your immense professionalism and flexibility. Without you, our experience would have been very different."
- Estée Lauder
