ISS @ Amgen wins Operations Team of the Year – Large at Operational Excellence Awards 2026
By Jed Nykolle Harme
September 16, 2026
Revisiting this year's standout large-scale operations teams, ISS @ Amgen secured the Operations Team of the Year – Large Award at the Operational Excellence Awards 2026, distinguished for demonstrating exemplary operational performance in complex GMP-regulated environments through effective teamwork, innovative technology deployment, and measurable sustainability achievements under the leadership of Gill McDonald and colleagues.
The team demonstrated exceptional capability in managing complex operational transitions whilst maintaining GMP compliance, safety standards, and operational efficiency. By navigating major changes including 24/7 operations implementation and TUPE integration, ISS @ Amgen's team maintained operational discipline whilst deploying innovative solutions delivering measurable incident reduction, cost savings, and environmental impact.
Judges commended the team's operational approach. "This entrant presents a highly credible example of Exemplary standard in a complex GMP-regulated environment," the panel stated. "Amgen's operations team demonstrates strong teamwork through major transitions, including 24/7 operations and TUPE integration. Innovative solutions, such as IoT applications, cobotics, and sustainability initiatives like Winnow and Tork Vision, delivered measurable outcomes in incident reduction, cost savings, and environmental impact. The submission highlighted effective collaboration, operational efficiency, and sustainability achievements, reflecting a mature, high-performing team led by Gill McDonald and her colleagues."
The recognition reflects broader trends in large-scale operations teams, where excellence increasingly depends on capability to navigate complex organisational transitions, integrate emerging technologies into regulated environments, and balance operational performance with sustainability and safety outcomes. ISS @ Amgen's achievement demonstrates how large-scale operations teams can achieve simultaneous improvements across multiple performance dimensions.
Heading into the 2027 awards cycle, ISS @ Amgen's achievement reflects the evolving definition of operations team excellence in large-scale, regulated environments as teams delivering simultaneous improvements across safety, efficiency, innovation, sustainability, and change management. As pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturers face ongoing pressures to innovate, maintain compliance, and reduce environmental impact, operations teams demonstrating Gill McDonald's leadership approach position themselves as exemplars of how large-scale teams can achieve genuine operational excellence across multiple performance dimensions.
Visit the official Operational Excellence Awards website to explore the full list of 2026 winners and subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive insights and continuing coverage from Ireland's operational excellence community.
