Alcoa Shaping Future of Global Manufacturing with 2013 Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today it was named a 2013 Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award (ML100 Award) winner in the Information Leadership Category by the Manufacturing Executive and Manufacturing Leadership Council. The awards honor companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Alcoa was recognized for its SMART Manufacturing project implemented across several of its Global Primary Metals locations.

“Now, more than ever, improvements in process optimization and manufacturing performance are essential for competitive advantage in the marketplace. In simplest terms, the Alcoa SMART Manufacturing program is a robust system of compiling data to help target problems and more quickly identify solutions.”

The Alcoa SMART Manufacturing project ties together information from all production and business sources within a plant and across the enterprise with a comprehensive, common technical architecture. In traditional manufacturing processes, data is often in many locations, not easily accessible and frequently in multiple versions. The SMART Manufacturing concept provides a common platform and tools, real-time data, and transparency, resulting in improved productivity, process improvements and lower costs.

"The challenges to stay competitive as a manufacturer are never ending," said Phil Morrissette, Chief Information Officer, Alcoa Global Primary Products. "Now, more than ever, improvements in process optimization and manufacturing performance are essential for competitive advantage in the marketplace. In simplest terms, the Alcoa SMART Manufacturing program is a robust system of compiling data to help target problems and more quickly identify solutions.

"Adopting SMART Manufacturing can eliminate or greatly reduce much of the manual data entry and paper routing, allowing the workforce to dedicate more time to productive operations or valued added work activities," Morrissette added.

SMART Manufacturing was deployed across six Alcoa locations in 2012; another six locations are scheduled for deployment this year.

ML100 winners in the Information Leadership category were selected based on specific project criteria including process and business impact, benefit to the bottom line, strategic value, and use of information technology as an enabler.

As a result of becoming an ML100 winner, Alcoa is now eligible for the program's High Achievers Award in the Information Leadership category as well as the 2013 Manufacturer of the Year Award and/or 2013 Project of the Year Award. Winners will be announced at a gala honoring the ML100 award winners on May 15 in Palm Beach, Florida.

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30 countries across the world. For more information, visit www.alcoa.com and follow @Alcoa on Twitter at twitter.com/Alcoa.