MANUFACTURER Carlisle Process Systems has improved efficiency.

Through introducing new procedures over the last two years, the Sherborne-based company is making savings of more than £90,000 and reducing waste by 40 per cent.

The successes come after it tackled two lean manufacturing projects from the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). The business was taken over at the end of last year by food processing and packaging company Tetra Pak. It has been re-named Tetra Pak Cheese and Powder Systems Ltd (Tetra Pak CPS). It specialises in the provision of process equipment for the cheese, dairy, food and beverage sectors.

Charles Todd, managing director of Tetra Pak CPS, said: "We are committed to enhancing our customer service and business performance, and there are many benefits to be gained from becoming a lean enterprise. The South West MAS has assisted us by facilitating our first two lean projects, and by helping to drive internal understanding and a culture of lean."

The timing of the lean manufacturing programmes was crucial to the business in the run-up to its acquisition, and in the early months under new ownership.

After 80 years of manufacturing in Dorset, Tetra Pak CPS first turned to the South West MAS in 2004 to learn more about the principles of lean manufacturing, and how they could offer a more tailored and flexible service in the face of competition from the UK and abroad.

The South West MAS helped to introduce sustainable continuous improvement methods throughout the whole of the organisation.

The manufacturing specialist also shared his knowledge of lean principles, which has seen production costs driven down resulting in a 40 per cent saving on consumable material usage.