Smith & Nephew improve manufacturing operations

Trading profit for the year was $857 million (£548m), up 15%. Highlights of the year included increased trading margins driven by efficiency programmes and rigorous cost control, manufacturing operational improvements across all businesses and a new Advanced Wound Management manufacturing facility in China. Chief Executive David Illingworth (pictured) said: "Smith & Nephew has exited 2009 with positive underlying revenue growth, strong trading margin improvement and has delivered trading profit growth of 15%. "We have accomplished this by focusing on our customers and providing them with innovative products which offer clinical and cost efficiency benefits. We are continually looking for, and delivering, greater efficiency across our operations, which is allowing us to increase our investment in growth opportunities, such as new products and geographic expansion. "We had a strong finish to the year and are pleased with our achievements in these challenging conditions. We have successfully improved many areas of Smith & Nephew's business and are working hard at the remaining areas, as well as identifying further opportunities."