Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, today revealed the list of world-class manufacturing companies and individual leaders recognized as finalists for the 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards.

“In times of business uncertainty, manufacturers find that investments in digital technology can pay off for improving efficiency and overall performance and innovation,” said David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Leadership Council. “In our 21^st season of recognizing excellence in Manufacturing 4.0, it is remarkable to witness the innovative methodologies that manufacturers are continually developing to propel their digital transformation initiatives.”

All finalists will be recognized on stage at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, taking place at 7:00 p.m. EDT on June 18, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida. Also to be announced at the gala will be category winners for all project and individual categories, winners of the Future of Manufacturing Award, the Manufacturing Leader of the Year, the Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year and Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year. See a complete list of finalists here.

The 2025 awards feature nine project categories to recognize company achievements in the areas of Artificial Intelligence Vision and Strategy, Business Model Transformation, Collaborative Ecosystems, Digital Supply Chains, Engineering and Production Processes, Enterprise Integration and Technology, Operational Excellence, Sustainability and the Circular Economy, and Transformational Business Cultures. Additionally, individual leaders are recognized in the Digital Transformation Leadership, Next-Generation Leadership, and Women in Digital Transformation categories. Award nominations were judged by a distinguished group of manufacturing leaders from across the industry.

“The Manufacturing Leadership Awards have continually evolved to mirror the rapid advancements in digital technology and the shifting priorities of the manufacturing industry,” said Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director at MLC and head of the awards program. “This year’s entries reflect an extraordinary level of innovation, strategic thinking, and overall excellence. To be recognized among such a competitive and forward-thinking field is a true honor — one that highlights the remarkable impact these leaders and projects are making on the future of manufacturing.”

Select award winners will present their projects at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, the industry’s leading event for exploring manufacturing’s digital era. Rethink will take place at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida June 15-18, 2025. Details are available here. Nominations for the 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards will open in September.