A MANUFACTURING company is saving millions of pounds a year thanks to the work of an international team based in the region.

The team was set up at LG Philips Displays' Durham plant last summer after a record 0.25 per cent of the plant's output of tubes for televisions and computer monitors were found to be defective.

As the market leader, manufacturing up to three million tubes a year at its Durham site, LG Philips took rapid action to investigate the problem.

Durham quality improvement engineer Shaun Wood was appointed as head of a team of glass, process and thermal experts from LG Philips' 14 sites worldwide.

Its investigations revealed that others were experiencing similar problems, with multi-million pound cost implications.

During a five-month study, the team identified a problem with the way glass used in the back of the tubes was processed, causing it to break.

After testing various methods, it found a way of processing the glass which left it tougher. Now the system is being used throughout the company.

David Coppock, Durham plant director, said: "Shaun and his team quickly identified the problem but, more importantly, came up with a solution that was relatively inexpensive to implement. It has saved us a considerable sum at Durham - perhaps £500,000 over a year."

The team's work is likely to be entered into the firm's award scheme to reward innovation and enterprise among its staff.