IndustryWeek's 2005 Best Plants finalists demonstrate a wealth of common characteristics: outstanding performances and a dedication to continuous improvement that starts but doesn't end at the plant floor being just two.
But as the list of this year's finalists demonstrates, diversity also is a hallmark of this select group of manufacturing plants. For example, Bowater Inc.'s operations in Catawba, S.C., produces coated papers and market pulp, while Lockheed Martin in Archbald, Pa., is among two defense contractors to make the 2005 list. The automotive sector is represented by such facilities as Lear Corp.'s plants in Liberty, Mo., and Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico; and Magee Rieter Automotive Systems in Bloomsburg, Pa., among others. The list includes manufacturers of insulated underground electrical cable and makers of cooking products.
It is from this list of 25 finalists that IndustryWeek will select the 10 winners of the 2005 IW Best Plants competition. Profiles of those Top 10 leading plants will appear in the October issue.
IndustryWeek's Best Plants 2005 finalists:
Blue Bird North Georgia Body Co., Lafayette, Ga.
Canadian Blue Bird Coach Ltd., Brantford, Ontario
Boston Scientific Corp., Wayne Operations, Wayne, N.J.
Bowater Inc., Catawba Operations, Catawba, S.C.
Camcraft Inc., Hanover Park, Ill.
Delphi Steering Systems, Plant 7, Saginaw, Mich.
dj Orthopedics LLC -- Vista Facility, Vista, Calif.
Gardner Bender Inc., Alexandria, Minn.
General Cable-Indianapolis Compounds, Indianapolis
General Cable de Latinoamerica, S.A. de C.V., Tetla, Tlaxcala, Mexico
General Cable Corp. -- Moose Jaw Plant, Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, Canada
The HON Co.-Cedartown Plant, Cedartown, Ga.
Lear Corp. -- Silao, Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico
Lear Corp. -- Liberty, Liberty, Mo.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control -- Archbald, Archbald, Pa.
Magee Rieter Automotive Systems, Bloomsburg, Pa.
Maytag -- Amana Refrigeration Products, Amana, Iowa
Maytag Cleveland Cooking Products -- Plant 2, Cleveland, Tenn.
National Gypsum Co. Apollo Beach Plant, Gibsonton, Fla.
Plastipak Packaging Medina, Medina, Ohio
Raytheon, Forest Consolidated Manufacturing Center, Forest, Miss.
Solectron Columbia South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.
Storage Technology (Bermuda) Ltd., Ponce, Puerto Rico
Thomas & Betts Corp., Athens, Tenn., Operations, Athens, Tenn.
TRW OSS Mexican Operations, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Interested in nominating a plant for the 2006 IndustryWeek Best Plants Program? Take a moment to fill out the nomination form. The nominated plant will receive a 2006 application when it becomes available.
