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IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies

To identify the 50 top performing manufacturers, the IW formula factors in revenue growth and profit margin over the past three years, with the most recent year results weighted most heavily. We also considered three-year performance in four other financial ratios; return on equity, return on assets, asset turnover and inventory turns.

Technology Takes Over IW 50 Best Manufacturers Ranking
Western Digital rises to No. 1 on the IW 50 Best Manufacturers ranking followed by Apple Inc.

Consumers expect computers to perform more tasks than ever before. Once-disparate functions such as telecommunications, entertainment and document filing have converged into laptops and other computers, driving the demand for increasing amounts of data storage.

That's one reason why three of the top 10 manufacturers on this year's IW 50 Best Manufacturers list come from the "computers and other electronic products" category. Claiming the top spot in 2011 is hard-disk drive manufacturer Western Digital Corp. The Lake Forest, Calif., company excelled in key IW 50 measurements that include return on equity, return on assets and revenue growth.

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IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies Articles & News

Chevron Profits Fall Despite Higher Oil Prices

Margin pressure in refining and currency cited as factors.

1/27/2012

First Solar Restructures for Changing Market

Excess industry supplies force company to seek 'industrial' business model with lower margins.

1/11/2012

Loral Space Focuses on Customer Signals

Profit skyrockets for satellite producer on heightened customer awareness and continuous-improvement strategies.

12/14/2011

Sciaky Wins Lockheed Contract Under Small-Business Development Program

Company to provide welding technology for F-35 aircraft.

12/5/2011

Exxon to Build New Lubricant Plant in Texas

Plant will have 50,000-tons-per-year capacity.

9/22/2011

Steve Jobs Tops List of CEO Departures in August

Figure remains unchanged from July but 9.4% higher than August 2010.

9/7/2011

Solar Manufacturers' Demise Raises Questions About Loans

Republican House members call for investigation into DOE loan awarded to Solyndra.

9/2/2011

Steve Jobs's Departure Puts Spotlight on Succession Planning

Top-performing companies make succession planning part of their core strategy, says executive consultant.

8/31/2011

Oil Production Growth Misses Estimates for Major Firms

Profits still strong on high oil prices.

7/28/2011

Who's the Top Tech Manufacturer? Surprise: It's not Apple

Western Digital rises to No. 1 on the IW 50 Best Manufacturers ranking followed by Apple Inc.

7/20/2011

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IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies

The IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies is IndustryWeek's report on the 50 best publicly held U.S. manufacturing companies based on revenue.

To identify the top performing manufacturers, the IW formula factored in revenue growth and profit margin over the past three years, with 2010 results weighted most heavily. We also considered three-year performance in four other financial ratios: inventory turns, asset turnover, return on assets and return on equity.

View the ranked list and profiles of the IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies.

Who were the previous top 50? You can still view the alphabetical list and profiles of the 2010 IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies, the alphabetical list and profiles of the 2009 IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies, the alphabetical list and profiles of the 2008 IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies, the alphabetical list and profiles of the 2007 IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies, the alphabetical list and profiles of the 2006 IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies and the alphabetical list and profiles of the 2005 IW 50 Best Manufacturing Companies (2005-2009 lists were not ranked).