Manufacturing Leadership Awards FAQ

What are the Manufacturing Leadership Awards?

The Manufacturing Leadership Council developed the Manufacturing Leadership Awards to honor manufacturing companies and leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Originated in 2005, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards have honored more than a thousand innovative projects and outstanding leaders from around the world since the program’s inception.



Who can submit a nomination?

The Manufacturing Leadership Awards are for manufacturing companies and individual leaders within the manufacturing industry, from any industry and at any location in the world. Anyone can nominate an award candidate by describing their high-impact manufacturing-related projects and achievements using the online nomination form. The project and individual achievements described in the form will be evaluated and scored by our distinguished panel of judges. Technology and consulting partners and noncorporate organizations and institutions may submit entries to recognize their manufacturing clients or customers so long as the manufacturer has approved the nomination. Partners who submit entries that are selected as a finalist will be recognized with a Partner in Collaborative Award.



What are the categories, and how do I determine which one is right for me?

There are 12 award categories, nine for projects and three for individuals. The complete list is available here.



When reviewing nominations, the MLC editorial team may reassign entries to a different category if it is determined that such a change would allow the entry to be judged more competitively against similar entries. For further assistance in regards to categories, please complete this inquiry form and a member of the MLC team will reach out directly.



What are the award program rules? 

Please click here to see all rules for the Manufacturing Leadership Awards.



Is there a cost for participating in the Manufacturing Leadership Awards?

The only cost to participate is the $295 nomination fee. There is no fee to license, receive, or promote the award. Manufacturing Leadership Council members receive one complimentary project nomination and one complimentary individual nomination with their membership. Members can contact their membership representative or email [email protected] to learn how to redeem this member benefit. In addition, all finalists are invited to attend the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala at no charge.



What is the deadline for submitting a nomination?

The deadline for the 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards is midnight EST on January 31, 2025.



Can I see an example of a winning project nomination?

Here are two project nominations that were selected as winners from past seasons of the Manufacturing Leadership Awards.



Sample 1
Sample 2



How is the information provided on the nomination form used?

All information included in the nomination form is considered confidential and will only be viewed by editorial staff along with the Manufacturing Leadership Awards expert judges. The Manufacturing Leadership Council may draw on the information in developing content related to finalists and winners, but inclusion of nomination form information in any content will be subject to approval from the finalist/winner organization.



How are the applications judged?

Award finalists are selected based on evaluations by a panel of expert judges comprised of experienced manufacturing operations executives from companies across many different industries. The entries that receive the highest scores are designated as Manufacturing Leadership Award finalists. The top scoring project in each category will be designated as the Category Winner.



Can I submit multiple nominations?

Please refer to this table for complete details on nomination limits.

Projects Individuals
Manufacturers  – nominating their own project or employee Five (5) total; limit of three (3) can be selected as finalist projects. Limit of three (3) individuals per category. Up to three (3) individuals can be selected as finalists per organization in each category.
Tech/consulting partners – nominating a manufacturing client project or employee Unlimited total, but with a limit of one (1) project per manufacturing client company. Note than each manufacturer may have no more than a total of five (5) project nominations per year, regardless of which organization submits them. Unlimited total, but with a limit of one (1) individual per manufacturing client company. Note that each manufacturer may have no more than three (3) nominated individuals per category, regardless of which organization submits them.
Tech/consulting partners – nominating an employee from the tech/consulting firm N/A Limit of three (3) individuals per category. Up to three (3) individuals can be selected as finalists per organization in each category.
PR/marketing firms – nominating a manufacturing client project or employee PR/marketing firms may submit as many nominations as they wish, but each manufacturer may have no more than a total of five (5) project nominations per year, regardless of which organization submits them. Limit of three (3) individuals per category. Note that each manufacturer may have no more than three (3) nominated individuals per category, regardless of which organization submits them.
Noncorporate organizations/institutions – nominating their own project or employee Five (5) total; limit of three (3) can be selected as project finalists. Limit of three (3) individuals per category. Up to three (3) individuals can be selected as finalists per organization in each category.
Noncorporate organizations/institutions – nominating a manufacturing partner Unlimited total, but with a limit of one (1) project per manufacturing partner company. Note than each manufacturer may have no more than a total of five (5) project nominations per year, regardless of which organization submits them. Unlimited total, but with a limit of one (1) individual per manufacturing client company. Note that each manufacturer may have no more than three (3) nominated individuals per category, regardless of which organization submits them.
Noncorporate organizations/institutions – joint projects in conjunction with a manufacturing partner Limit of one (1) joint project per institution/manufacturer pairing. A joint project will count against the five (5) project annual limit for both the manufacturer and the institution. N/A

In the event that the number of entries received for any enterprise exceeds the designated limit, all contacts listed on the nomination forms will be contacted as a group to make a final determination on which entries to submit to the judging panel. For entries submitted on behalf of a manufacturer by a tech and consulting partner, a noncorporate organization or institution, and/or a PR/marketing firm, the manufacturer will have final approval on which entries will be submitted for judging. Refunds will be issued for any entries that are not submitted to the judges panel.



How will I be recognized for my efforts and when are finalists and winners announced?

Award finalists will be notified in March 2025, immediately followed by a public announcement. Finalists are announced through press releases, e-newsletters, and social media posts from the MLC and the NAM. Finalists will also receive recognition during the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, scheduled for June 18, 2025, in Marco Island, FL. Finalists will be contacted with additional information about gala participation.

Category winners, Manufacturers of the Year, and the Manufacturing Leader of the Year will all be announced at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala. In addition, winners for the Lifetime Achievement Award and any other special awards will be announced, if candidates are identified for those awards.