Collaboration Partnership

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Category Definition & Guidelines


To assist you with this application the judges have provided some guidelines.

When providing your answers, the “For Example”/guidelines we have suggested for each question are not intended to be exhaustive. They are designed as examples and prompts to help you understand the judges’ requirements. It is important that where you state that you have evidence in support of the specific question you are answering, you need to provide that evidence – usually, a generic brochure or company overview is not sufficient.

HMA is interested in seeing initiatives that have been identified, driven, and resolved within our region.

Download a category information guide here.

Additional Information

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Focus of the category

The HMA Collaboration Partnership Award recognises organisations that have demonstrated exceptional collaboration and strategic partnerships in the manufacturing sector of the hunter and broader regions.

This award honors businesses that have successfully worked together—whether through joint ventures, supplier relationships, research and development, or industry alliances—to drive innovation, improve efficiencies, and achieve outstanding business outcomes.

Each of the listed criteria must be addressed, where relevant, and evidence should be provided in support of information presented.

Photographs, drawings, presentations (in any technological form) etc., may be included as an attachment to the online application form—please label them clearly, including a reference to the particular category that the file supports.

Please address the following criteria and restrict the content of each response to 300 words or less.

Judging criteria & Values

Question 1:

Overview of the Collaborative Partnership Arrangement

Judging Criteria

  • Describe how the partnership was created. 
  • How were the parties brought together and what were the primary drivers – why was collaboration an option? 
  • Who was involved in establishing the relationship? What form does the relationship take? 
  • Has a new entity been established to carry the collaboration forward?

Value:

12.5 points


Question 2:

Product/Project Development

Judging Criteria

Note here the suitability of a project which takes the form of a

unique delivery of services

  • Describe product or products developed.
  • Describe the process used to develop the product/s.
  • Describe the contributions of each partner.

Value:

12.5 points


Question 3:

Value Creation in Manufacturing

Judging Criteria

  • Describe how the production system was designed and its effectiveness monitored and reviewed.
  • Was a process developed for continual improvement? 
  • Describe any new manufacturing processes or systems developed during the initiative.
  • Describe any initiatives undertaken to improve the capability of employees to ensure the success of the collaboration.

Value:

12.5 points


Question 4:

Working Together

Judging Criteria

  • What model was developed for the collaboration?
  • Describe how the risks/investments were shared by the parties. 
  • Were they equal or was there a 'senior' and 'junior' partner?

Value:

12.5 points


Question 5:

Sales Generated (or economic impact)

Judging Criteria

  • Provide details on sales generated for the product/s, if any, or the economic scale of the project.
  • Were the sales / economic outcomes achieved in the domestic market or exports or a combination of both?

Value:

12.5 points


Question 6:

Accountabilities and Staying Together

Judging Criteria

  • Describe how the committed contributions from each party were monitored, and accountabilities managed to measure the relationship.

Value:

12.5 points


Question 7:

Intellectual Property

Judging Criteria

  • Describe the nature of any unique intellectual property created through the partnering arrangement. 
  • Describe how this IP is being shared and protected.
  • Describe the research and development process undertaken, including timeframes

Value:

12.5 points


Question 8:

Exit Strategy

Judging Criteria

  • Did you develop a mutually beneficial way that provides an option to gracefully end the collaborative relationship?

Value:

12.5 points


Question 9:

Collaboration Partners

Judging Criteria

  • Identify the partners involved in the collaboration

Value:

N/A

Application Guide & tips

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