Uncommon Excellence
IndustryWeek celebrates exceptional manufacturing performers and performances. Welcome our 31st class of honorees.
Achieving operational excellence in the best of times is a challenge. Be it difficult customers with outrageous demands on cost, quality, or delivery – perhaps all three simultaneously – or less-than-reliable suppliers, or internal battles across departments, the struggle is real. In harder times, that challenge is multiplied many times over.
This past year and a half has been far less than ideal for all manufacturers. COVID-19, extreme supply shortages and seriously depleted workforces have tested their mettle like never before. And the ground remains unsteady for many.
It is in this latter environment that IndustryWeek conducted its latest IW Best Plants Awards competition, our annual salute to manufacturing excellence across North America.
Here’s what we learned: Operational excellence endures. Extraordinary manufacturing facilities find ways to do extraordinary things, rise to the occasion and persevere in the midst of chaos. To achieve remarkable manufacturing performances, regardless.
Such manufacturers are peopled with strong leaders and smart employees. They value communication. They embrace teamwork and build tight-knit relationships up and down the value chain. They are problem-solvers and opportunity seekers. They hold tight to continuous improvement.
The IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards winners are such manufacturers, and we applaud them. Without further ado, the 2021 IW Best Plants Awards winners are (in alphabetical order):
Brose Tuscaloosa Inc.
Vance, Alabama
Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
Tremonton, Utah
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Greenville, North Carolina
