2024 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
Nominating criteria and instructions:
- Nominating is free, and must be completed using this online form by Friday 20 September 2024 at 11:59pm.
- Nominations are unable to be withdrawn once nominations are closed.
- Your nomination must be completed in one sitting; a partially completed form cannot be saved and reopened at a later date.
- All products and/or technologies must be manufactured and/or commercially available in Australia.
- Companies and sites nominated must operate within Australia.
- Executives nominated must reside and work in Australia.
- All nominations must be accompanied by a high resolution image (at least 1MB in size) suitable for print publication.
- Please have any supporting documentation (i.e. equipment specifications, photographs, marketing materials) ready to upload; file sizes shouldn’t exceed 5MB.
- All finalists are required to have a representative at the Gala Awards evening should they be successful.
By submitting a nomination, you give Prime Creative Media permission to publish all or part of your nomination in Manufacturers’ Monthly or another suitable publication.
NOTE: no content is provided to nominees for approval prior to publication so please ensure all information, supporting evidence and images are approved for publication prior to submitting the nomination. Anything that is confidential and not for publishing should be clearly identified.
View all Award categories and nomination criteria below.
Technology Application Award
Recognising a technology or smart solution designed to enhance manufacturing processes. This category is for technology providers who sell their products to Australian manufacturing businesses. The technology must be new to market or have significant changes to an existing version within the two (2) years prior to the nominations closing date.
Nomination Criteria
- Demonstrate how the technology improves at least one of the following: production outputs, waste reduction, input reduction, environment, safety, cost reduction, manufacturing efficiency, delivery in full and on time. (50 points)
- Demonstrate how technology differs from other available market offerings. (20 points)
- Include a case study/practical example demonstrating success. (30 points)
Environmental Solution of the Year
Recognising a process or technology that enhances environmental sustainability. The process or technology must be new to market or have significant changes to an existing version within the two (2) years prior to the nominations closing date.
Nomination Criteria
- Demonstrate how the solution has maximised environmental sustainability – what technology/methodology/plant has been developed to ensure this? (40 points)
- Demonstrate how solution differs from other available market offerings. (20 points)
- Explain the potential long-term impacts of the solution on environmental sustainability. (10 points)
- Include a case study/practical example demonstrating success. (30 points)
Outstanding Start-Up Award
Recognising an Australian manufacturing start-up that has introduced a new product to market, filling a market gap. The company must have been established within the five (5) years prior to the nominations closing date.
Nomination Criteria
- Why was the company established, and what need does it meet? (15 points)
- What is the product, and how does it differ from other market offerings? (20 points)
- Is the product a commercially viable long-term proposition? Provide examples of scalability, commercial viability and end markets. (40 points)
- Demonstrate the reception of the product – either in the market or in initial prototype stages. (25 points)
Safety Solution of the Year – proudly sponsored by Weld Australia
Recognising a process or technology that enhances safety. The process or technology must be new to market or have significant changes to an existing version within the two (2) years prior to the nominations closing date.
Nomination Criteria
- Demonstrate how the solution improves safety. (50 points)
- Demonstrate how the solution differs from other market offerings. (20 points)
- Include a case study/practical example demonstrating success. (30 points)
Excellence in Manufacturing Skills Development
Recognising a program designed to develop the vocational skills of manufacturing employees. It could be a company offering an internal program, an educational institution offering a program to the wider industry, or a collaboration between a company and an educational institution. The program must be new to market or have significant changes to an existing version within the two (2) years prior to the nominations closing date, and have been in operation for a minimum of six (6) months.
Nomination Criteria
- Demonstrate how the program has been marketed to the manufacturing industry, and how participants are attracted. (50 points)
- Demonstrate the success of the program through the following: increased job offers, rising numbers of program participants, more skilled or specialised roles available for those who complete the program. (50 points)
Leader of the Year
Recognising a leader who holds a senior person (executive, manager, director, or equivalent) in a private, not-for-profit, or government organisation who has effectively shaped their business’ success, delivered financial growth, significantly and positively impacted the business’ culture, and championed the industry widely. The nominee must show their leadership contributions and illustrate their financial and cultural impact throughout the organisation. They must also detail how they have used their position to promote, protect, support, champion the manufacturing industry.
Nomination Criteria
- How has the nominee foreseen and prepared for changing conditions and challenges, and deployed innovative solutions to ensure the viability of the organisation? (20 points)
- Illustrate the nominee’s significant impact on organisational growth, greater reach, and improved financial performance/impact. (20 points)
- Provide examples of the nominee’s achievement of the organisation’s targets and KPIs and any other measurable change and success. (20 points)
- How has the nominee driven a cultural impact in the organisation to build a diverse and inclusive workplace? (20 points)
- How has the nominee mentored others or impacted on the business during their time in the leading position? (20 points)
Most Innovative Manufacturing Company Award – proudly sponsored by SEW-EURODRIVE
Recognising a company working to disrupt the Australian manufacturing industry. The innovation must be new to market or have significant changes to an existing version within the two (2) years prior to the nominations closing date.
Nomination Criteria
- Explain the innovation that the company has introduced to disrupt the industry and how it benefits the sector it is designed for. (30 points)
- Demonstrate how the innovation improves the industry in least one of the following: environment and sustainability, productivity, efficiency and speed, cost-saving, safety. (30 points)
- How does the company plan for and execute technical and operational success under challenging conditions? (20 points)
- How will (or has) this excellence been embedded in business as usual to ensure ongoing success? (20 points)
Excellence in Growth – proudly sponsored by BDO Australia
Recognising financial growth, people growth and market growth – all important to achieving sustainable consistent growth over the long term. The growth must be demonstrable over the three to four (3-4) years prior to the nominations closing date.
Nomination Criteria
- Provide financial information for the last three or four years (in AUD), specifically Revenue, Gross profit, and Net profit, for each of the most recent financial years. (30 points)
- Provide counts of the total number of full-time and part-time employees over the three or four year period, for each year. (20 points)
- Provide the demonstration of market growth over the past three or four years, which can account for adaptability of business to events such as COVID-19. (30 points)
As some financial details may need to be verified, by submitting this form you consent to the judging panel contacting you for further information if required. Please note: this category is evaluated by BDO.
Project of the Year
Celebrating an outstanding project utilising Australian manufactured products, that has reached stage- or full-completion within the past two (2) years. This category may recognise multiple companies that have been involved in delivering the project, which could be in one of a variety of areas (for example defence, transport, infrastructure, medical, aerospace, emissions reduction, etc.)
Nomination Criteria
- What are the key issues/challenges/opportunities that the project is seeking to solve and/or capture and what targets or KPIs have been met to date? (20 points)
- What was the significance of using Australian manufactured products/partnering with an Australian manufacturer for the project and why were they chosen? (30 points)
- What is the project’s high-impact and measurable outcome(s) that go above and beyond industry norms or business as usual, for example through improvement in environmental or social performance? (30 points)
- Has the project demonstrated new, replicable best practices for industry? (20 points)
Manufacturer of the Year – proudly sponsored by Bestech Australia
Manufacturer of the Year is chosen from the winners of the other Awards categories. This category is not open for nomination.