Rheem Manufacturing, General Motors Win Manufacturing Leader Awards

The Manufacturing Leadership Council—the digital transformation division of the NAM—last night announced the winners of the annual Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
 
Leader of the year: Alan Machuga, executive vice president, technology, at Rheem Manufacturing Company was named the 2026 Manufacturing Leader of the Year.

• Machuga was recognized for his innovative leadership transforming Rheem into an experience-first, digitally driven enterprise with modernized core technologies and reimagined business processes.
• Rheem, a leader in the plumbing, heating and cooling industry, was also named a category winner for Business Model Transformation for its shift away from a product-centric approach to one that delivers a seamless experience to customers and partners while generating new sources of revenue.

Manufacturers of the year: General Motors was named the Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year in recognition of its achievements in digital transformation of production operations, AI-assisted vehicle testing and autonomous machining.

• Pure & Gentle was named the Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year for the second consecutive year, recognizing its outstanding accomplishments in sustainability, manufacturing readiness and bolstering supply chain performance.

The MLC says: “The 2026 class of Manufacturing Leadership Award winners demonstrates that digital transformation in manufacturing has entered a new era—one defined by artificial intelligence, autonomous operations and deeply collaborative ecosystems,” said David R. Brousell, founder, vice president and executive director of the Manufacturing Leadership Council. 

• “These companies and individuals are not just adopting new technology; they are fundamentally reshaping how manufacturing creates value, and their leadership is setting the pace for the entire industry.”
• “What stands out about this year’s winners is the breadth of innovation, from AI-driven quality intelligence and lights-out production to circular manufacturing and frontline empowerment,” said Penelope Brown, senior content director and director of the MLC Awards program. “These projects reflect a manufacturing sector that is not only embracing digital tools but using them to solve real-world challenges at scale.”

The event: The 22nd annual award ceremony took place at the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was the closing event for Rethink: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing, the MLC’s flagship event on strategies to advance digital transformation in manufacturing operations.