MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Frost & Sullivan's Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC), has announced that as of Thursday, August 21, 2014, the 2015 Manufacturing Leadership (ML) Awards are officially open for nominations.

The ML Awards program has undergone significant enhancements including the addition of categories for manufacturers that are transforming their businesses through the use of emerging technologies, including big data and advanced analytics, mobility and the Internet of Things (IoT.)

Now in its eleventh year, the ML Awards honors companies and individual leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. In addition, the awards honor technology providers that have assisted ML Awards winners in achieving transformational breakthroughs. They also celebrate the outstanding career achievements of manufacturing leaders who build best-in-class companies and help advance the manufacturing industry.

Recipients of the ML Awards receive global recognition as manufacturing industry leaders and are honored at the Manufacturing Leadership Summit, June 2-4, 2015, at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, CA. Past ML Awards company honorees include 3M, Boeing Co., Coca-Cola, Eaton Corporation, Ford Motor Co., General Electric Co., General Motors Co., IBM, L'Oreal USA, Motorola, Nalco, and Raytheon.

"The addition of new categories for projects that leverage big data, mobility, and IoT is recognition that manufacturers around the world are entering a new era of hyper-connectivity in which everything from products in the field to machines on the shop floor will be generating vast streams of data," said David Brousell, Global Vice President and Editorial Director of the Manufacturing Leadership Council. "Manufacturers that leverage that information to optimize their businesses and give customers what they want are tomorrow's leaders."

Also new in 2015, the ML Awards have added categories for manufacturers that are successfully attracting and developing next-generation leaders and creating breakthrough innovation practices. Manufacturers and their technology partners can submit ML Award nominations in the following categories:

2015 Project/Company Awards:

• Big Data and Advanced Analytics Leadership
• Customer Value Leadership
• Engineering & Production Technology Leadership
• Enterprise Technology Leadership
• Internet of Things Leadership
• Operational Excellence Leadership
• Mobility Leadership
• New Product Leadership
• Innovation Process Leadership
• Supply Chain Leadership
• Sustainability Leadership
• Next-Generation Leadership Award

2015 Individual Achievement Award:

• Visionary Leadership Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award

Full descriptions of these categories are available at: http://bit.ly/1kLyZxY.

ML Awards nominations will remain open until Nov. 1, 2014 and can be submitted online by describing achievements using a downloadable form. Nominees are entered into specific categories and evaluated by a panel of expert judges.

For more information on the MLC and the new 2015 Manufacturing Leadership Awards, including past ML Awards recipients, examples of completed nomination forms, and to download and submit nomination forms, visit: mlawards.gilcommunity.com.