Lean and innovative is the recipe for the future success of manufacturing in Yorkshire, according to experts in a free supplement from www.thebusinessdesk.com is released.

The future of manufacturing is up for debate as www.thebusinessdesk.com releases a free supplement in partnership with DLA Piper. Yorkshire manufacturers are apparently ahead of the game as they innovate and review existing processes in areas such as waste management and invest in research and development.

Teresa Hitchcock, head of DLA Piper's UK health and safety environment team based in Sheffield, said: "If a company is making sure there is less waste and it is using more resource then it can maximise its purchase costs, and there will be cost savings."

The report indicates that staying ahead of the increasing competition from strengthening economies in the East is the main challenge and should be the focus of activity. As the economic downturn has seen employment levels fall significantly in all sectors, manufacturing has also been hard hit. This is forcing companies to review all aspects of how they work.

Robin Watson, director for The Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire, said: "Innovation can be new materials, new technology or new ways of working and new management systems. It's about working smart."

The report follows yesterday's coverage of Barnsley based manufacturer Zebra Steel Fabrications winning several contracts in major London based redevelopment projects including the Westfield Stratford City development, the largest urban shopping centre in Europe and gateway to the Olympic Park.

Zebra's owners decided a year ago to expand the business into both manufacturing and installation, a move they say is paying off.

TheBusinessDesk.com's report is available to download for free here