Rockware sparkles in the glass industry : MBA program helps to secure company's future

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to describe how a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program designed for Rockware Glass, which manufactures glass bottles and jars for food and drink packaging, has helped to secure the company's future. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the challenges the company faced from increased competition, and the contribution made to overcoming them by the in‐house MBA program, run in conjunction with management‐development specialist NCC and the University of Lincolnshire. Findings – The paper reveals that the program has developed a network of strategically aware managers who are helping to give direction to the business and deliver real results in an increasingly challenging environment. Practical implications – The paper contains plenty of lessons, for a wide range of sectors, about the value of management training. Originality/value – The paper highlights the increase in customer involvement, customer satisfaction and innovation that has occurred since the program was completed.