2016 IndustryWeek Best Plants Finalists Announced

Oct. 18, 2016

These manufacturing plants share several common traits: excellent and improving manufacturing performance metrics, engaged leadership and workforces, and a belief that better performances are still to be had.

Jill Jusko

Thirteen manufacturing facilities have been named finalists in the 2016 IndustryWeek Best Plants competition, IW's annual search for and salute to manufacturing excellence across North America. IW congratulates their ongoing efforts to improve their processes, their people and their profitability.

These manufacturing plants are spread across the United States, from Utah in the west to Virginia in the east, with Michigan and Illinois playing host to two finalists each. Mexico also lays claim to two finalists, with Canada represented by a manufacturing facility as well.

No matter where these manufacturing plants are located, they share several common traits: excellent and improving manufacturing performance metrics, engaged leadership and workforces, and a belief that better performances are still to be had.

IndustryWeek will select the winners of the 2016 IW Best Plants Awards competition from this pool of finalists. The winning facilities will be announced in early 2017, and their stories will be shared online and in print.

They also will be honored at the 2017 IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Conference and Expo, which will take place May 8-10 in Cleveland.

The 2016 finalists are:

DeWys Manufacturing Inc.
Marne, Mich.

Firstronic
Grand Rapids, Mich.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
Danville, Va.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
Tremonton, Utah

Johnson Controls, Optima Plant
Cienega de Flores, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

L.B. Foster Threaded Products
Magnolia, Texas

Lincoln Electric Maquinas
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico

Maclean-Fogg Metform Group
Savanna, Ill.

New Flyer Industries
St. Cloud, Minn.

New Flyer Industries
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Paccar Engine Co.
Columbus, Miss.

UTC Aerospace Systems – Aerostructures
Foley, Ala.

Wiegel Tool Works Inc.
Wood Dale, Ill.

About the Author

Jill Jusko

Bio: Jill Jusko is executive editor for IndustryWeek. She has been writing about manufacturing operations leadership for more than 20 years. Her coverage spotlights companies that are in pursuit of world-class results in quality, productivity, cost and other benchmarks by implementing the latest continuous improvement and lean/Six-Sigma strategies. Jill also coordinates IndustryWeek’s Best Plants Awards Program, which annually salutes the leading manufacturing facilities in North America.

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