If two minds are better than one, then leaders from 15 businesses should be a formidable group.

Companies in the Tidewater and Richmond regions have formed the Virginia Business Excellence Consortium – Southeast to share best practices and promote economic growth in the commonwealth.

The group, which includes companies such as Ukrop’s, Capital One and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding – Newport News, formed to help businesses improve their own processes, operations and employee skills through the advice of their peers.

The idea came from a recent survey commissioned by Virginia’s Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership and conducted by Chmura Economics & Analytics. It revealed that many Virginia manufacturers said they could not meet some of their most vital needs, such as business growth and quality management systems, through traditional measures.

The group has 15 founding companies and is self-governed and self-funded. It is open to companies of any size and in any industry. The group expects other consortia to be formed in other regions of Virginia.