IndustryWeek's annual salute to manufacturing excellence is again under way. For the 19th consecutive year, the IW Best Plants competition is in search of 10 winning manufacturing facilities from across North America. The search has been narrowed to this group of finalists, all of which display enviable performance metrics, as well as a dedication to continually improving their people, processes and performances.

Once again, the finalists' group encompasses manufacturers from Canada, Mexico, as well as the United States. With three facilities, Georgia is home to the greatest number of finalists in any one U.S. state this year.

As per usual, the 2008 IW finalists are diverse in the products they manufacture. Indeed, the range of industries they encompass include medical products, lighting, automotive bumper assemblies, ruggedized electronics cabinets, and centrifugal pumps for a variety of process industries.

IndustryWeek will select 10 winners of the 2008 competition from this group of finalists. Profiles of the 10 winning facilities will appear in the January 2009 issue of IndustryWeek as well as at www.industryweek.com. They also will be honored at the 2009 IW Best Plants conference, slated for April 27-29, 2009, in Nashville.

Baldor Electric Co.
Weaverville, N.C.

Batesville Casket Co., Panola Plant
Batesville, Miss.

Baxter Mexico S. A. de C. V.
Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico

Bunge Canada
Oakville, Ont., Canada

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