In Good Company

INDUSTRYWEEK'S 2005 BEST Plants finalists demonstrate a wealth of common characteristics: outstanding performances and a dedication to continuous improvement that starts but doesn't end at the plant floor being just two.

But as the list of this year's finalists demonstrates, diversity also is a hallmark of this select group of manufacturing plants. For example, Bowater Inc.'s operations in Catawba, S.C., produces coated papers and market pulp, while Lockheed Martin in Archbald, Pa., is among two defense contractors to make the 2005 list. The automotive sector is represented by such facilities as Lear Corp.'s plants in Liberty, Mo., and Sileo, Guanajuato, Mexico; and Magee Rieter Automotive Systems in Bloomsburg, Pa., among others. The list includes manufacturers of insulated underground electrical cable and makers of cooking products.