The most prestigious awards and benchmarking programme in UK manufacturing has announced the final shortlisted companies.

The programme is run by Works Management in partnership with Cranfield School of Management. Since entering early in 2007, these businesses have been analysed by Cranfield School of Management, and then visited by the judging team for an in-depth review.

Those that have made it onto the shortlist are, in alphabetical order:

APPH Runcorn Landing Gear, Runcorn.
Coca-Cola Enterprises, London.
Coors Brewing, Alton.
Exception PCB, Tewkesbury.
KeyMed (Medical & Industrial Equipment), Southend-on-Sea.
Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK), Hull.
Rencol Tolerance Rings, Bristol.
Rocket Medical, Washington.
Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems, Edinburgh.
Sharp Interpack, Yate.
Storm Interface, Maldon.
Ultraframe (UK), Clitheroe.

Every site is vying for the coveted Factory of the Year title, won by Vitacress Salads last year. To win overall, it must firstly win its own sector award, namely one of Best Process Plant; Best Household and General Products Plant; Best Engineering Plant or Best Electronics and Electrical Plant.

Previous entrants to the awards are eligible for the Most Improved Plant Award, and companies with less than 500 employees in the whole business for the Best Small Company.

In addition, businesses are shortlisted to be awarded for excellence in a number of key areas. These include the Supply Chain Award, the Health, Safety and Environmental Award, the People Management Award and the Innovation Award.

This year's sponsors include O2; Productivity Europe; TBM Consulting Group; Toyota Industrial Equipment; Unite the Union and Wincanton.