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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

Steve Jobs Film in the Works

'Social Network' writer to pen Jobs film script.

5/16/2012

Lockheed Martin Gives Innovation New Wings

Technological developments help cut production costs in addition to new market opportunities.

5/16/2012

Judge Gives OK to Proceed with Class-Action Lawsuit Against Apple, Six Publishing Houses

Ruling comes as Apple and publishing firms sought to dismiss the case, which alleges price-fixing in the e-book market.

5/15/2012

Greenpeace Members Arrested in Apple 'Cloud' Demo

Activists want Apple to use renewable energy instead of coal.

5/15/2012

Ten Critical Steps to Protecting Intellectual Property in Global Markets

Don't assume patent protections in your home country are the same elsewhere. Just ask Apple.

5/7/2012

Report: Fracking to Grow U.S. Water-Treatment Market Nine-Fold by 2020

The race to treat water used in shale-gas drilling could create a $9 billion industry.

5/1/2012

Exxon Mobil Profit Sinks in First Quarter

Results reflect company's strategy of focusing on developing and delivering energy.

4/26/2012

Apple's Profit Soars on Rocketing iPhone, iPad Sales

iPad sales more than double, while iPhone purchases rise 88%.

4/25/2012

Russia's Rosneft, ENI Seal Strategic Tie-Up

Companies expect to expand oil field projects in the United States and Europe.

4/25/2012

U.S. Commission Says iPhone Infringes Motorola Patent

Ruling comes after similar ITC preliminary verdict against Microsoft.

4/24/2012

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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).