Awards categories

Operational Excellence Award

The minimisation, and indeed outright elimination, of waste continues to dominate the manufacturing agenda. Enterprises will be required to successfully illustrate how they have strived towards operational excellence, having made significant progress with such techniques as lean and six sigma, in turn minimising waste across their manufacturing processes while simultaneously maximising customer value.

Winner

Premier Foods

Shortlisted Companies:

Premier Foods, Herman Miller, Fiehe International with Cognizant

Innovation Award

With innovation remaining the key differentiator in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, companies will need to demonstrate significant progress in designing, developing and delivering a blockbuster product concept. The judging panel will be looking for evidence of how businesses have maintained their competitive advantage by sustaining considerable rates of innovation, whilst remaining responsive to market demands.

Winner

Purafil, Inc.

Shortlisted Companies:

Purafil, Inc., Selex Galileo

Outstanding Achievement in Continuous Improvement Award

With Continuous Improvement a never-ending process for manufacturers, this award will recognise excellence in motivating employees of all levels to seek to remove waste from processes. Continuous Improvement should be deeply engrained in the winner’s company culture, and improvement should be a natural part of the day-to-day life of all staff. The judges will be impressed with innovative methods to encourage the ongoing evaluation of production processes and development of new ways of working.

Winner

Heineken

Shortlisted Companies:

GKN, Heineken, Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA

Distinction in Global Operations Award

Translating one great project into a global programme of excellence has it’s challenges. This award recognises success in applying best practice learnt at one site to all of the winner’s global locations, overcoming cultural, language and skills barriers along the way. Special attention will be given to how best practice is shared, the speed with which it is adopted and the innovation in developing an excellent supply chain and global operations whilst reflecting local business needs.

Winner

Purafil, Inc.

Shortlisted Companies:

Cummins, Inc., Impress Decor with PA Consulting Group, Purafil, Inc.

Manufacturing IT Award

The winner of this award will be able to demonstrate unrivalled progress and success in designing and executing an IT infrastructure covering the manufacturer’s multiple processes and disciplines, resulting in evident ROI. The judging panel will be looking for companies which have clearly exhibited an ability to effectively embrace and utilise IT as a tool in maximising productivity and ensuring competitiveness.

Winner

Cummins, Inc.

Shortlisted Companies:

Green Manufacturing Award

The judges will be looking for case studies where companies have been able to demonstrate unparalleled performance in environmental manufacturing. This will include maximising energy efficiency levels, addressing water use and treatment, compliance with environmental regulations and minimising waste from the production process. Manufacturers will need to illustrate success in cutting their carbon footprint, as well as converting green manufacturing into a business opportunity.

Winner

Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA

Shortlisted Companies:

ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co., Premier Foods, Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA

Manufacturer of the Year Award

Recognising exceptional all round performance in manufacturing, this award represents the pinnacle in manufacturing excellence today, acknowledging the outstanding achievements of a single manufacturing enterprise that has successfully realised corporate growth, taking their business to the next level in competitive manufacturing. The judges will declare as the winner the company that has illustrated significant success in manufacturing performance.

Winner

Premier Foods

Shortlisted Companies:

Purafil, Inc., Cummins, Inc., Premier Foods

SMA e-F@ctory Hall of Fame

Membership of the SMA e-F@ctory Hall of Fame is exclusive only to those who demonstrate exceptional leadership in manufacturing innovation and best practice. The award will go to the 'winner of the winners'.

Winner

Purafil, Inc.