Excellence in manufacturing capability
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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 Excellence in Manufacturing Capability Award recognises outstanding work done to improve the manufacturing systems, processes and tools, resulting in materially better outcomes without fundamentally changing what the business makes or how it creates value for customers.
The initiatives may include a wide variety of elements from new technology to new processes or tools.
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.
Note - The Hunter Manufacturing Awards seek to celebrate and elevate great hunter manufacturing stories. Four of the HMA categories (Innovation, Capability, Product Design and Digital Transformation) are looking for very similar feeling stories and so, in 2026, HMA provides the following distinction guidance to help candidates understand which category is best to elevate their story.
Applicants may find that their application into this category may also be a 'fit' for another category, such as Manufacturer of the Year, etc.
By adapting the information to fit the criteria of other categories you give yourself the opportunity for your product, process, etc. to be profiled in more than one sector.
Judging criteria & Values
Question 1:
Planning
Judging Criteria
- Describe the ‘pre’ situation.
- What was the challenge, problem or opportunity you were addressing – energy costs, productivity, quality, safety?
- How was the need to improve identified?
- Describe and quantify where possible, in $ and time, the investment made in planning for the improvement.
- How was the effect on the business assessed and quantified?
- What were the desired outcomes of the improvement?
- What form did the business case take that resulted in the project being approved to proceed?
- How was the planning stage managed to ensure the success of the project? e.g. workplace consultation, communication and engagement, allocation of resources, contingency planning.
Value:
15/100
Question 2:
Targets
Judging Criteria
- What targeted KPIs or improvements to KPIs (to be measured) were nominated and documented before commencing?
- A measure of improved profitability (disguised for commercially sensitive reasons if necessary) is mandatory.
- How were they relevant to the business challenge?
- Why were these targets realistic and achievable?
- How were they measured and reported?
- Was there a clear timeframe for each target?
- Were the targets clearly documented and how was the leadership team and workforce engaged in the development and monitoring of the targets?
Value:
10/100
Question 3:
The Solution
Judging Criteria
- Describe the solution you developed.
- How was the solution developed?
- What steps were involved?
- Who was engaged in the development process?
- What were the key elements of the solution and how were they applied to the business improvement need?
- Describe the process you used to identify risks to the solution.
- What were the major risks identified and how did you plan to manage them through the execution phase?
Value:
15/100
Question 4:
Execution
Judging Criteria
- Describe the process of executing the solution. What were the steps involved and how were all the stakeholders involved in the process?
- Describe the involvement of any partners or collaborators in the solution. What was their role? Did they share the risk and costs?
- How did you manage the change from a technical and organisational perspective?
Value:
15/100
Question 5:
Investments
Judging Criteria
- Describe the investments required to make the solution work. Technology, systems, tools, capability building, infrastructure etc.
Value:
10/100
Question 6:
Outcomes
Judging Criteria
- Describe the the ‘post’ situation and quantify improvement in the objectives and agreed KPIs?
- Answers to this question need to match the KPIs listed in Question 2.
- Direct correlation between the project approved KPIs and the results will provide conclusive evidence of success. Sustainability of the change and the related KPIs needs to be demonstrated.
- What impacts has the solution had on the competitiveness of the business and its medium to longer term sustainability?
Value:
15/100
Question 7:
Exceptional or Non-Quantitative Outcomes
Judging Criteria
- Describe any pleasing/exceptional non-quantitative outcomes achieved, and if there were any, what it might mean for your organisation.
- Improved reporting at all levels
- Improved relationships between management and staff.
- Greater engagement by staff and improved culture
- More effective teams showing greater initiative to further improve the business
- Potential further improvements in related processes
- How these outcomes can be leveraged to bring about change in other sections or groups within the business
Value:
10/100
Question 8:
Unforeseen Benefits
Judging Criteria
- What, if any, unforeseen benefits emerged and how might these be applied to other processes/products/locations?
- Improved accountability for targets at all levels in the organisation.
- Ability to apply the improvements to other sections within the business.
- New or expanded markets not envisaged in the original KPIs.
- Greater recognition internally and externally of the skills and worth of the business that might lead to further investment in improvements.
Value:
10/100
Application Guide & tips
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