IndustryWeek's annual Best Plants competition salutes manufacturing excellence and applauds efforts to continuously improve. Now in its 20th year, the search for 10 winning manufacturing facilities from across North America has been narrowed to a group of 20 finalists. Despite possibly the roughest economic conditions many have faced, these manufacturing facilities still pursued process and people improvements, and achieved enviable performance metrics in numerous operational areas.

Tennessee and Georgia share the title of the state that can claim the greatest number of 2009 IW Best Plants finalists. Both have three. Other states with more than one finalist are Pennsylvania and Texas, each with two. Mexico also lays claim to two of this year's finalists.

Medical devices, electronic equipment for the defense industry, furniture, lighting and burial caskets are among the products produced by the 2009 class of winners.

IndustryWeek will select 10 winners of the 2009 competition from this group of finalists. Profiles of the 10 winning facilities will appear in the January 2010 issue of IndustryWeek as well as at www.industryweek.com. They also will be honored at the 2010 IW Best Plants conference, slated for April 19-21, 2010, in Cleveland.

Batesville Casket Co. - Panola Plant
Batesville, Miss.

Batesville Manufacturing Inc.
Manchester, Tenn.

Carrier Charlotte Chiller Operations - Commercial Applied Equipment
Charlotte, N.C.

Carrier - Carlyle Compressor Facility
Stone Mountain, Ga.

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