Siemens Magnet Technology, Eynsham, which makes the ultra-light magnet at the heart of a revolutionary MRI scanner, took the coveted overall Toyota Material Handling Factory of the Year prize.
Siemens Magnet Technology also scooped the People & Skills Development Award and Best Engineering Plant Award at the BFAs run by Cranfield School of Management in partnership with Works Management.
Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, Broadstairs; Siemens Digital Factory, Congleton; and 3M UK, Newton Aycliffe scooped the other three main sector awards of Best Process Plant, Best Electronics & Electrical Plant and Best Household & General Products Plant, respectively.
In the category prizes, Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, Broadstairs was winner of the Export Award. Vaillant Industrial UK, Belper took the Energy & Environment and Most Improved Plant Awards, Tharsus Group, Blyth was named Best SME and Plastek UK, Mansfield won the Judges’ Special Award.
Leyland Trucks, Leyland was crowned Supply Chain champion, Arla Foods, Aylesbury won the Innovation Award, and Diageo, Leven scooped the Health & Safety Award.
There were also Highly Commended wins for CP Electronics, London; Vaillant Industrial UK, Belper; Kohler Mira, Cheltenham; Heraeus Electro-Nite, Chesterfield; Diageo, Leven; Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, Broadstairs, and The Hut Group, Myprotein Warrington.
Dr Marek Szwejczewski, director of the Best Factory Awards, commented: “We read a lot about the poor performance of UK manufacturing, especially the productivity gap. However, a visit to this year’s Best Factory Award winners quickly eradicates such misconceptions about the state of UK manufacturing.
“The best plants have been continuously improving in terms of delivery, quality, and importantly productivity... The Best Factory Award winners provide the benchmark of manufacturing excellence and we are very proud to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements.”
Max Gosney, Works Management (WM) group editor, said: “There have been some fantastic memories made over the past 11 years [since WM first got involved] on the BFAs. What has struck me most has been your passion... Your heart-on-your-sleeves, love-what-you-do attitude is inspirational.”
The Best Factory Awards took place at London’s 8 Northumberland Avenue and attracted an audience of around 250 manufacturing leaders.
See the full list of BFA winners below:
2015 Best Factory Award winners
1) Factory of the Year 2015
Winner: Siemens Magnet Technology, Eynsham
Sponsored by Toyota Material Handling UK
2) Best Process Plant
Winner: Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, Broadstairs
3) Best Engineering Plant
Winner: Siemens Magnet Technology, Eynsham
Highly Commended: Vaillant Industrial UK, Belper
4) Best Electronics & Electrical Plant
Winner: Siemens Digital Factory, Congleton
5) Best Household & General Products Plant
Winner: 3M UK, Newton Aycliffe
6) Best SME
Winner: Tharsus Group, Blyth
7) People & Skills Development Award
Winner: Siemens Magnet Technology, Eynsham
8) Export Award
Winner: Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, Broadstairs
Highly Commended: Diageo, Leven
9) Supply Chain Award
Winner: Leyland Trucks, Leyland
Highly Commended: Kohler Mira, Cheltenham
Sponsored by Buck & Hickman
10) Most Improved Plant
Winner: Vaillant Industrial UK, Belper
Sponsored by Brammer
11) Health & Safety Award
Winner: Diageo, Leven
Highly Commended: Heraeus Electro-Nite, Chesterfield
Sponsored by IOSH
12) Innovation Award
Winner: Arla Foods, Aylesbury
Highly Commended: Kohler Mira, Cheltenham
13) Energy & Environment Award
Winner: Vaillant Industrial UK, Belper
Sponsored by Atlas Copco
14) Judges' Special Award
Winner: Plastek UK, Mansfield
Highly Commended: CP Electronics, London
Highly Commended: The Hut Group, Myprotein, Warrington