Image courtesy of Inline Plastic Corp.

The 19 finalists are selected from across North America, representing plants that demonstrate a commitment to manufacturing excellence. The winner will be announced in the spring of 2018.

Finalists were determined by a panel of IndustryWeek editors and outside experts. The panel considers a variety of factors, including:

• A comprehensive effort to achieve world-class manufacturing capability
• Strong quality systems and results
• Extensive employee involvement and empowerment programs
• A strong customer focus on satisfaction, product design, and reduced lead times
• Flexible production systems capable of responding quickly to customer needs
• Manufacturing improvements, such as shortened cycle times, improved productivity, and reduced inventories