The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) recognizes manufacturing excellence across North Carolina and honors manufacturers that deliver exceptional performance.
The awards committee is now accepting nominations for the 2027 North Carolina State Manufacturing Leadership Awards. Manufacturers are encouraged to self-nominate.
The 2027 North Carolina State Manufacturing Leadership Awards will be presented to manufacturing facilities in North Carolina with 500 or fewer employees demonstrating excellence in several categories during the 2027 North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, MFGCON on April 8-9, 2027 at Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC.
Organizations may submit applications in as many categories as desired but can only win in one category. If you’re a past category winner, you’re not eligible to win the same category again for five years.
The deadline to apply for the 2027 awards is before 5 p.m. on February 1, 2027.
Awards are presented in the following categories:
BUSINESS AND MARKET EXPANSION AWARD
The Business and Market Expansion award is decided by the economic impact of the manufacturer on its community, such as the overall economic impact, an increase in the overall tax base, entry into new markets, the creation of new jobs, or criteria relevant to the community goals. The award is presented to a manufacturing facility in North Carolina with 500 or fewer employees demonstrating excellence in business and market expansion. This award recognizes effective, innovative expansion programs or initiatives which have been established for a minimum of two years in North Carolina.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
INNOVATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AWARD
The Innovation and Continuous Improvement Award is presented to the organization that successfully challenges the status quo. It honors those who implement cutting-edge technologies, streamline production workflows, and foster a culture of continuous daily improvement to enhance their operational efficiency and product quality. Reviewers will be looking for evidence of originality and modernization of systems and use of methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen that show efficiency, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the process. Reviewers will seek evidence that the manufacturer demonstrates a culture of innovation to support emerging technologies and trends and that the company achieved results in specific areas of innovation, such as the commercialization of new products. This award recognizes effective, innovative and continuous improvement programs or initiatives which have been established for a minimum of two years in North Carolina.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
SAFETY AND HEALTH EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING AWARD
The Safety and Health Excellence in Manufacturing Award recognizes a North Carolina manufacturer that has demonstrated leadership and sustained excellence in workplace safety and health through a strong safety culture, employee engagement, effective training, proactive risk management, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Eligible manufacturers must demonstrate a sustained commitment to workplace safety and health, supported by at least two years of measurable performance and continuous improvement.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The Advanced Talent Management/Workforce Development Award will be presented to the manufacturer that has demonstrated excellence in workforce development, through employee retention, recruitment, and training. We will look for evidence of the use of educational workforce development opportunities and secondary or post-secondary education from community colleges, universities, or workforce boards to support the development of a pipeline of skilled and qualified new and existing employees. The award is presented to a manufacturing facility in North Carolina with 500 or fewer employees demonstrating excellence in workforce development. This award recognizes effective, innovative expansion programs or initiatives which have been established for a minimum of two years in North Carolina.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING AWARD
The Sustainable Manufacturing Award criteria is based on outstanding sustainable practices, measurable environmental or energy savings related to production processes, product design, or product life cycle. The award is presented to a manufacturing facility in North Carolina with 500 or fewer employees demonstrating excellence in sustainable manufacturing. This award recognizes effective, innovative expansion programs or initiatives which have been established for a minimum of two years in North Carolina.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD
The Community Outreach Award is presented to the manufacturer that has impacted communities in North Carolina. Selection is based on efforts in community engagement and the measurable impact of those efforts. The award is presented to a manufacturing facility in North Carolina with 500 or fewer employees demonstrating excellence in community outreach. This award recognizes effective, innovative expansion programs or initiatives which have been established for a minimum of two years in North Carolina.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING AWARD
The Excellence in Manufacturing Award winner honors the manufacturer that demonstrates exemplary practices across all areas of manufacturing – workforce development, sustainability, innovation, emerging markets/economic development and continuous improvement. The award is presented to a manufacturing facility in North Carolina with 500 or fewer employees demonstrating overall excellence in manufacturing. This award recognizes effective, innovative expansion programs or initiatives which have been established for a minimum of two years in North Carolina. This award recognizes a manufacturer who has demonstrated leadership in all categories (workforce development, sustainability, innovation, emerging markets/economic development and continuous improvement).
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
All submissions must be received by February 1, 2027.
Questions? Contact Susan Barber at 919.513.1359 or [email protected].
