SME sponsors Shingo prize

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SME is now a sponsor of the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturig for 2002. Considered the Nobel prize in manufacturing, it promotes world-class manufacturing and recognizes companies that achieve

superior customer satisfaction and business results. "It is an honor to be a part of this award, which is the most recognized and respected manufacturing excellence award in the United States," said Nancy Berg, SME's executive director and general manager. "SME is the world's leading supporter of education and professional development programs for manufacturing professionals and the companies they serve. This is a union between two world-class organizations striving for the best in manufacturing." Based in the US, the annually awarded Prize is open to manufacturers in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and to researchers throughout the world. This year's award winners were announced on February 26, 2002.

The Shingo Prize evaluation criteria are based on an overall lean business systems model. Masaaki Imai, chair, Kaizen Institute, has noted that the Shingo is the only award program in the world focused on lean manufacturing and the elimination of much (waste). The model demands system integration based on proven lean manufacturing and business practices. The Shingo criteria focus on customer satisfaction, profitability, product quality, cost, delivery, lean-core operations, leadership, and empowerment enablers. A board of examiners consisting of over 100 lean leaders throughout North America, representing primarily former Shingo Prize recipient companies, carry out the rigorous process of evaluating the 100page achievement report and the two to three-day company site visit.

Founded in 1988, the Shingo Prize is named after Shigeo Shingo who distinguished himself as one of the world's leading experts in improving manufacturing processes. He has been described as an "engineering genius" who assisted in the creation of, and wrote about, many of the features of the revolutionary just-in-time manufacturing methods, systems, and processes that make up the renowned Toyota Production System and related production systems. In 1988, Utah State University recognized Shingo for his lifetime work with an Honorary Doctorate in Business and established the Shingo Prize.

This year's prize winners for small businesses are: Bridgewater Interiors, LLC (Detroit, MD, Vibration Control Technologies, LLC (Ligonier, IN), and Woodland Furniture, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID). Prize recipients for large businesses include: Bridge stone/Firestone (Aiken, SC); Delphi Automotive Systems' Adrian Operations (Adrian, MI), and Corland Molding Operations (Warren, OH); Delphi Alambrados y Circuitos (Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico), Delphi Delco Electronics de Mexico Deltronics Operations (Matamoros, Mexico); Delphi Automotive Systems' Harrision Thermal Systems, Rio Bravo XX, (Juarez, Mexico); Ford Motor Company assembly plant (Chicago), engine plant (Romeo, MI), and Chihuahua engine plant (Chihuahua, Mexico), Freudenberg-NOK (Shelbyville, IN); Grupo CYDSA Industria Quimica del Istmo, S.A. de C.V. (IQUISA) (Monte and Tiacala, Mexico), Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations (Troy, AL), Tyco Fire and Security Service (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico), and Ensign-Bickford Company's Graham, KY, Simsbury, CT, Spanish Fork, UT, and Wolf Lake, IL locations.

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Shigeo