ST. LOUIS, MO — The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the AME Excellence Award: Flex Manaus (Brazil), Flex’s plastics operations in Guadalajara (Mexico), and FGF Brands (Canada). These world-class organizations were recognized during the AME St. Louis 2025 International Conference for their outstanding achievements in operational excellence and enterprise-wide continuous improvement.
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The AME Excellence Award honors companies that demonstrate effective lean practices and enterprise-wide excellence. The rigorous selection process includes a comprehensive self-assessment, a site visit and detailed feedback grounded in the AME Lean Sensei® framework — a model that supports benchmarking, reflection and growth. The award aligns with AME’s mission to inspire a commitment to enterprise excellence through experiential learning and by bringing people together to share, learn and grow.
This year’s honorees exemplify excellence in action, as they led with purpose, empowered their teams and raised the standard for manufacturing performance worldwide.
As AME’s volunteer vice president of awards, Michael Bremer, shared on stage during the award ceremony:
“The AME Excellence Award isn’t about a trophy or scoring well on the criteria. Those are the mechanics. What really matters is what the process makes possible. When assessors visit, they don’t come in with a checklist and say, ‘Do this.’ Instead, they hold up a mirror. They help leaders identify blind spots they didn’t realize existed, while also highlighting strengths that may have been taken for granted.”
Flex Manaus: Advanced informatics and environmental leadership
Located in the heart of Brazil’s Amazon region, Flex Manaus is a state-of-the-art facility that serves multiple markets including industrial, lifestyle, consumer electronics and communications. With a workforce of nearly 1,700 team members, the site combines high-volume electronics manufacturing with robust digital systems and automation.
During the AME Excellence Award assessment, Flex Manaus was recognized for two standout strengths:
- Information systems that drive flow: The site’s deployment of real-time informatics supports visual management, fast-paced problem-solving and smart escalation. Value streams are well-connected through data visibility, allowing teams to act quickly and with confidence.
- Sustainable manufacturing practices: Flex Manaus demonstrated a deep, operationalized commitment to environmental sustainability. This includes waste reduction, energy management and a culture of responsibility that extends throughout the site.
This marks the sixth Flex facility worldwide to receive the AME Excellence Award, underscoring Flex’s global dedication to manufacturing excellence, digital transformation and continuous improvement.
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“Receiving the AME Excellence Award is more than achievement. It reflects the energy, the commitment, and the passion of our team that make everything happen. This recognition will move us forward with excellence, collaboration and the confidence that we are building and leaving our lasting legacy.”
— Valéria Valente, senior director of operations, Flextronics da Amazônia
Flex plastics operations in Guadalajara: People-centric culture and operational discipline
Guadalajara, Mexico, is home to the company’s plastics operations facility, which specializes in advanced injection molding, semi-automated assembly and vision system-supported inspection. The site operates continuously across three shifts and employs approximately 950 team members. Its diverse customer base spans the automotive, lifestyle and industrial sectors.
AME assessors identified several notable strengths:
- Dynamic employee engagement system: The team uses real-time “morale pulse” tracking as a diagnostic tool for culture and performance, offering one of the most dynamic and responsive people-first systems AME assessors have observed.
- High-level problem-solving capability: The site's visual management, structured templates and storyboards reflect a rigorous improvement mindset. Coaches challenge teams to deepen their thinking and drive results using structured A3s and standardized routines.
The facility’s recognition further highlights the organization’s strong focus on workforce empowerment, continuous learning and lean maturity. The site sets a high benchmark for other Flex locations and manufacturing operations across the Americas.
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“This recognition reflects the power of teamwork, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the unwavering commitment of every member of our organization. At Flex, we believe that continuous improvement drives us to overcome challenges and deliver lasting value to our customers, our people, and the communities we serve.”
— Álvaro de la Mora, GM of Guadalajara Plastics Operations
FGF Brands: Tech-enabled baking and structured excellence
FGF Brands, headquartered in Canada, describes itself as “a technology company that bakes.” Its Locke facility in Concord, Ontario, was recognized for its application of modern manufacturing practices in the food industry, blending data science with bakery production to serve leading food brands across North America.
The AME assessment team highlighted several areas of strength:
- Data-driven operating model: The site operates with a high degree of scientific and analytical rigor. From visual dashboards to real-time KPIs, decisions are made based on facts — not assumptions — supporting effective planning, execution and review.
- Agile product development: FGF’s new product introduction process is responsive and tightly aligned with market needs. Teams work cross-functionally to ensure innovation pipelines are efficient and strategically prioritized.
- Strong leadership commitment: Engagement is visible at all levels, with leadership playing an active role in supporting teams, reinforcing core principles and promoting a shared commitment to improvement.
During the award ceremony, Parth Vaidya, director of manufacturing at the Locke plant, reflected on the meaning behind the award:
“I'm truly honored to receive this AME award. This recognition means a lot to me. It's not about me — it's about the team and the leaders I've been fortunate to work with. This award reminds me that progress can be achieved by shared responsibility. It's about what we can do together and never settling for just good enough. I'm proud of what we have achieved and very excited for what's ahead. Thank you very much, AME, for this recognition. We really appreciate it.”
FGF Brands’ approach blends cutting-edge technology with operational discipline, making them a standout example of excellence in food manufacturing and a second-time AME Excellence Award recipient.
About the AME Excellence Award
The AME Excellence Award is not simply a recognition of current performance — it’s a reflection of an organization’s ability to improve how they improve. The process is highly interactive, with AME assessors offering outside perspectives that uncover opportunities even within high-performing organizations.
Past recipients have called the assessment the best learning experience their teams have ever had. Participating companies use the feedback to guide strategic planning, empower teams and drive ongoing progress.
The program is grounded in the AME Lean Sensei®, a self-assessment and benchmarking tool designed to help organizations evaluate and improve their operations against world-class standards.
To learn more about the AME Excellence Award, download the AME Lean Sensei® or explore past recipients, visit www.ame.org/excellence-awards.
Media contact
Jessi Elder
Senior Marketing Specialist
Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME)
jelder@ame.org
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