How They Made the Top 10
IndustryWeek began accepting application requests for the 2011 Best Plants awards early last year. A panel of IW editors reviewed the completed applications, which reported management practices and plant performance in such areas as quality, customer and supplier relations, employee involvement, productivity, cost containment, manufacturing flexibility and responsiveness, inventory management, environmental and safety performance, and market results. Selection of the winners from a list of finalists was aided by a team of outside experts: Robert Hall, a founding member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence; Kenneth J. McGuire of the Management Excellence Action Coalition; and Larry Fast, president of Pathways to Manufacturing Excellence. Their evaluations, along with additional information provided by the finalists, were considered in the final stage of judging. The selections did not become final until site visits by IW editors to validate the performance data and management practices reported in the applications.
Continuous Improvement E-Newsletter
To read more about 2011's 10 winning factories, subscribe to our free Continuous Improvement newsletter, which features best practices from the 2011 Best Plants winners. Sign up online at www.industryweek.com/newsletters.aspx.
Meet the Winners in Indianapolis
Representatives of the 2011 winners will present their stories at the annual IW Best Plants conference, scheduled for April 23-25, 2012, in Indianapolis. Look for continuing updates on the IW Best Plants conference website.
Applications for 2012 Competition
IndustryWeek is accepting application information requests for the 2012 IndustryWeek Best Plants competition. Manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico are eligible. To request an application, fill out the online form on the IW Best Plants competition site
