Procter & Gamble has become the latest international company to join Britest in order to collaborate in the development and deployment of innovative process solutions.

Procter & Gamble has collaborated alongside Britest for the past five years in IMPULSE - a major European Union Framework Seven programme. Led by industry, the IMPULSE research programme focused on the development of radical process innovation in chemical and pharmaceutical production technologies.

In joining Britest, Procter & Gamble gains access to a range of established methodologies and a proprietary ‘toolkit’ of innovative process design techniques that have been developed through unique collaborations amongst industry and academic leaders.

The tools cover a range of areas from strategic business processes, project steering, reaction and physical processing and whole process analysis. They are used in the design of new plant and processes and for problem solving on existing plants/processes. They employ a multi-disciplinary approach to managing knowledge and gaining ‘whole process understanding’ across functional teams.  

The move to join Britest follows the successful demonstration of Britest’s tools and methodologies at Procter & Gamble’s research facilities.  It is envisaged that Britest’s tools will complement and add value to Procter & Gamble’s own internally developed process tools and help the company identify new opportunities for process innovation across its international sites.  

With its strong focus on formulation and physical processing in the consumer products sector,   Procter & Gamble will add a new dimension to Britest’s existing industrial focus, providing valuable engagement with a new and dynamic industry sector.

Sue Fleet, Britest CEO said: “I am delighted to welcome Procter & Gamble as a member of Britest and I look forward to working with Jose Vega and his team in helping them deliver process innovations and gain tangible value from their membership. With a shared vision for open collaboration, I am sure Procter & Gamble will make a valuable contribution to Britest’s technical innovation programme and particularly our physical processing priority area”.

Jose Vega, R&D Director at Proctor & Gamble said: “Through our participation in IMPULSE, we have enjoyed a highly successful collaborative partnership with Britest and built a strong relationship with the team. P&G shares Britest’s collaborative approach as it matches well our own P&G Connect & Develop Strategy. We look forward to working with the other industrial and academic partners in driving sustainable manufacturing solutions through improved process understanding”

Using a multi-disciplinary approach, Britest helps its members explore knowledge and understanding of their existing processes and implement process improvements through effective deployment of its proven tools and methodologies.

Since its inception in 1998, Britest has delivered over US$500 million of value to its member companies through reduced capital and operating costs, as well as delivering valuable environmental improvements.

Britest’s members include some of the world’s leading companies with diverse interests across the pharmaceutical, fine chemical, mining, fuel additives and consumer products sectors. This industrial focus is uniquely complemented by some of the most respected international academics with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of manufacturing and process design. The benefit of this international collaboration enables Britest to establish a coherent view on the key global manufacturing issues facing its members.