2025 Manufacturing Leadership Award Finalists

Project Finalists

Artificial Intelligence Vision and Strategy

• Celanese – Artificial Intelligence (JO.AI) at Scale
• Cisco Systems, Inc. – AI Agent-Based Virtual Failure Analysis
• Corteva Agriscience – Artificial Intelligence Delivers Spinosyns Productivity
• Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.) – Project Genesis: Foxconn’s AI-Driven Manufacturing Revolution
• GMM Pfaudler – Continuous Business Process Improvement with Infor Velocity Suite Boosts Productivity and Revenue
• Honeywell International Inc. – Modernizing Risk Management and Compliance at Honeywell
• IBM Corporation – Revolutionizing Supply Chain: watsonx AI to Maximize Operational and Cultural Growth
• Intertape Polymer Group – Enterprise-Wide AI/ML Vision, Strategy and Implementation
• Iochpe-Maxion SA – Challenging the Status Quo with a Scalable Industrial AI Platform Approach
• PACCAR – Transforming Warranty Claim Management: AI-Driven Failure Mode Insights
• Schneider Electric USA – Revolutionizing Customer Experience: AI-Enhanced Decision Making

Collaborative Ecosystems

• Bayer Crop Science – Pesticide Application Tracker: Transformation of Safety and Integrity in Manufacturing
• EnerSys – Collaborative Excellence in Product Lifecycle Management
• Hitachi Astemo – Digital Transformation: Real-Time Data for Efficiency & Collaboration
• Humtown – Where Education and Manufacturing Unite to Empower Next-Gen Industrial Athletes
• Iowa State University CIRAS – Empowering Iowa’s Small Manufacturers with Industry 4.0
• Johnson & Johnson – J&J Optimizes Shift Handover within Manufacturing Leveraging the Power of AI
• Lexmark Internacional, Inc. – Digital Transformation Makes Lexmark Manufacturing More Efficient
• MxD – CyberSecure Supplier Project
• PACCAR – Peterbilt Motors Company: Innovation with a Digital-First Manufacturing Culture
• Pella Corporation – Cross-Functional Agile Organizational Structure to Achieve Transformational I4.0 Impact
• Whirlpool Corporation – Manufacturing the Washing Machine Project
• Whirlpool Corporation – From Concept to Kitchen: A Collaborative Digital Transformation at Whirlpool
• Winnebago Industries – Realizing Benefits with Inventory Best Practice Implementation
• Winnebago Industries – Building Problem-Solving Discipline through the A3 Internal Certification Program

Digital Supply Chains

• Carrier Global Corporation – Carrier Drives Inventory Management through Digital Transformation
• EnerSys – Excellence in Digital Supply Chain Transformation
• Flex – Future-Proofing Supply Chains: SimFlex’s Advanced Platform for End-to-End Optimization
• IBM Corporation – GenAI Solutions for Real-Time Supply Chain Disruption Insights

Engineering and Production Technology

• Clarios – Powering Tomorrow Forward with Visual Deco Design Automation (VDDA)
• Corning Incorporated – Advanced Optics Part Layout Automation
• Dow, Inc. – A Roadmap to a Safer Workplace
• Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group – Cell Culture Process Intensification at Genentech Oceanside
• Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group – Replicating Excellence and Innovating Delivery by Creating a Single-Use Manufacturing Network of the Future
• General Motors – Automated Craftsmanship for Metallic Panel Customization
• General Motors – Reducing Battery Cost and Complexity with Improved Deep Draw Process
• GM Defense – Reducing Variability Introduced by Low-Volume Manufacturing Requirements
• Greene, Tweed & Co. – Automated O-Ring Packaging
• Hologic Costa Rica – Manufacturing Equipment Renewal and Capacity Increased
• Intel Corporation – Time Series Forecast with Deep Learning for Predictive Maintenance
• Intel Corporation – Using Natural Language Processing to Streamline Manufacturing Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
• Intel Corporation – I.R.I.S.: Intelligent Robotic Inspection System
• Lockheed Martin – Augmenting the F-35 Center Wing
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics – F-16 Center Fuselage AutoDrill
• Maxion Structural Components – Maxion’s AI-Powered Vision System to Optimize Welding Cells
• Merck & Co., Inc. – Creating Plant Capacity at Scale through Production Optimization Digital Capabilities
• Novelis, Inc. – Intelligent Cycle Time Reduction
• PACCAR – High-Voltage Glove Inspection Device
• PCL Construction – Evolution of Model Data-Driven Planning
• Pella Corporation – Product Attribute Driven Dynamic Work Instructions via Voice Directed Work
• Rockwell Automation – AI-Prescribed Press Offset Cutout to Reduce Calibration Angle Test Failures
• Rockwell Automation – Digital Wiring Assistant
• Texas Wooden Solutions – Production Efficient TFL Panels
• Zebra Technologies – Cost-Effective Mobile Computer 5G Manufacturing Technology via Multi-Share High-Speed Test Methodology

Enterprise Integration and Technology

• Anheuser Busch InBev – Scaling Intelligence – Optimize Today to Predict the Future
• Baldwin Richardson Foods – Scalable Framework for Centralized Enterprise Reporting and Analytics
• Bristol Myers Squibb – Manufacturing of the Future – Digital & Operational Excellence to Deliver Medicines Faster
• Celanese – Reshaping Manufacturing through Enterprise-Wide Digital Transformation
• Corning Incorporated – Transforming Connectivity Solutions with M4.0 by Enhancing Digital and Analytic Capabilities
• General Motors – Device Level Analytics to Enable Smart Manufacturing at GM
• Glover Precision – Enhancing Agility and Efficiency in Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing through Smart ERP Integration
• Hologic Costa Rica – Smart Building Powered by Industry 4.0
• Jabil – Jabil AI-Driven Manufacturing – MFG 4.0
• Lockheed Martin Corporation – Classified Manufacturing Operations Management Systems Pathfinder
• Merck & Co., Inc. – Transforming Manufacturing with Simplification, Standardization, Digitization, and a People-centric Mindset
• NCDMM – Advanced Manufacturing Cell to Transform Missile Fin
• Novelis, Inc. – Creating a Fully Integrated Operational Technology Platform at Novelis
• PLZ Corp – PLZ Corp’s Strategic Transformation for Efficiency and Innovation
• Protolabs – Establishing Unified Namespace Architecture at Protolabs
• Schneider Electric USA – Standardized Manufacturing Execution Systems – The Journey
• Zebra Technologies – Zebra’s Manufacturing Line Design Automation and Simulation (ZMAP)

Operational Excellence

• Anheuser-Busch InBev – Brewing Performance Management System (BMS): Revolutionizing Brewery Efficiency
• Baldwin Richardson Foods – Agile and Scalable Enterprise Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Deployments
• Bridge Publications, Inc. – From Press to Global Impact: Bridge Publications’ Record-Breaking Print Innovation
• Caster Concepts – Speed to Lead: Caster Concepts Lowers Lead Time with Quick Response Manufacturing
• Corteva Agriscience – The OOO Route: Cost Reduction Journey for Pyroxsulam
• Curtiss-Wright – Driving Operational Excellence with RFID: Curtiss-Wright’s Journey to Streamlined Production
• Dover Fueling Solutions – Large Line Stack & Assembly
• EnerSys – EnerSys Operating System: A Unified Global Approach to Strategy Deployment and Continuous Improvement
• Flex – Timisoara’s Transformation: Strategic Approach to I4.0 for Enhanced Efficiency and Employee Empowerment
• The Hershey Company – Hershey Digital Lean: Delivering Operational Excellence
• INVISTA – PRAISE: Predictive Reasoning with Actionable Insights and Structured Explanations for Manufacturing Efficiency
• Jabil – Holistic Approach for Higher Machine Uptime and Productive Manufacturing Line
• Merck & Co., Inc. – Visual Factory: Single Source of Truth to Drive Simplified, Standardized and Digitized Operations
• Pella Corporation – Insulating Glass Production System to Enable Sustainable Operational Efficiency
• Schneider Electric USA – Automatic Metric Collection with AI Chatbot
• Scientific Games – P-10 Advanced Instant Game Production Technology
• Thermo Fisher Scientific – Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc. – Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Performance Management
• Winnebago Industries – Barletta Boats Business – Improving the Model Year Change Process
• Woodward, Inc. – Digital Transformation Prepares Woodward to Meet Growing Market Demand

Sustainability and the Circular Economy

• Cisco Systems, Inc. – Circular Design: Pioneering Sustainability in ICT Products
• Corteva Agriscience – Utrisha™ N – A Sustainable Nutrient Efficiency Optimizer
• Dow, Inc. – Operation Clean Sweep (OCS)
• Elephantech Inc. – CO2 Reduction through AI-Powered Precision Printing and Metal Ink Innovation
• Hologic Costa Rica – Cost Efficient through Oil Recovery and Reuse
• Jabil – Integrated Rainwater Collection and Ultrafiltration System
• Lexmark International – Helping Customers Achieve Sustainability Reporting
• Lexmark International – Lexmark’s John D. Gagel Solar Array
• Niron Magnetics – Domestic, Sustainable Rare Earth-Free Powerful Permanent Magnets
• OMNI Systems – The OMNI Difference: Empowering Sustainable Practices for a Better Tomorrow
• Pure & Gentle, Inc. – Pure & Gentle Continues Driving Sustainable Innovation
• Saint-Gobain North America – Breaking Linear Models – Saint-Gobain Circular Economy Solutions
• TCCI Manufacturing – Climate Center for Innovation and Research in Clean Energy and Climate Technology
• Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry – How Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry Drove Energy Efficiency and Reduced Costs

Transformational Business Cultures

• MxD – MxD Learn Disability Inclusion Programming
• Pure & Gentle, Inc. – Planet-First, People-First: How Pure & Gentle Builds a Sustainable Workplace
• Whirlpool Corporation – The Spark: Igniting Front-Line Leadership

Individual Finalists

Digital Transformation Leadership

• Besu Alemayehu, Merck & Co., Inc.
• Joe Bennett, Scientific Games
• Jim Brusnahan, Clarios
• Michael Dworakowski, GM Defense
• Andreas Eschbach, eschbach
• Jason Haskins, Bobcat
• Chad Inkrott, Whirlpool Corporation
• David Kelm, Worthington Enterprises
• Darin Klaehn, Pure & Gentle
• Thomas Matthews, Biogen
• Ethan Ott, Whirlpool Corporation
• Stephen Pickthall, McCain Foods Limited
• Baskar Radhakrishnan, NTT DATA
• Marcelo Ribiero, Anheuser-Busch InBev
• Bill Steinberger, Whirlpool Corporation
• Jim Wetzel, NxGen Group
• Jeff Wilhelmy, Sylvamo

Next-Generation Leadership

• Matthew DeMott, General Motors
• Allison Draper, Corning Incorporated
• Trent Hensel, Whirlpool Corporation
• Adèle Martinat, Anheuser-Busch InBev
• Colton McAda, Dow, Inc.
• Lucy Morris, General Motors
• Corey Roberts, Peterbilt Motors Company
• Yulisa Sanchez, Whirlpool Corporation
• CisLee Trost, CertainTeed
• McKenna Welch, Biogen
• Kegan Wise, Whirlpool Corporation

Partners in Collaborative Innovation

• Boston Consulting Group
• CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute
• Dassault Systèmes
• ECI Software Solutions
• EY
• Gravity
• Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
• Infor Corporation
• L2L
• LeanDNA
• NTT DATA
• Rockwell Automation | Kalypso
• Xemelgo
• Zebra Technologies