The Shingo Prize was established in 1988 to promote an awareness of lean manufacturing concepts and to recognize companies that achieve world-class manufacturing status. Today, the Shingo Prize is regarded as one of the premier manufacturing award and recognition programs. Business Week considers the Shingo Prize, “the Nobel prize of manufacturing . . .” The Prize is presented to manufacturing sites that have achieved dramatic performance improvements. Prize recipients produce phenomenal statistics such as reducing set-up times by 1 million minutes per year, achieving inventory turns of 250 per year and cutting lead times from months to hours, yet they continue to strive to improve their core manufacturing practices. The Shingo Prize highlights the value of using lean/world-class manufacturing practices to attain world-class status. The mission of the Shingo Prize is to: Facilitate increased awareness of excellent-to-world-class manufacturing practices and techniques that maintain and enhance a company’s competitive position in the global marketplace. Foster an understanding and sharing of successful core manufacturing and business improvement methodologies. Encourage research in all aspects of manufacturing by both academic and business practitioners. The Prize, while based in the United States, is also open to manufacturers in Canada and Mexico and to researchers throughout the world. It is awarded annually to recognize: Companies, divisions and plants that demonstrate excellence in manufacturing practices that translate into excellent customer satisfaction and business results. Research and professional publications that promote new knowledge and understanding of manufacturing and business improvement methods, systems and processes consistent with the Business Prize Achievement Criteria of the Shingo Prize. The Shingo Prize Utah State University Trent Robson, Program Administrator Phone: 435/797-2279 http://www.shingoprize.org/