The U.S. Senate recently honored several manufacturing companies in Indiana for their productivity improvements.

The winner of the 2005 U.S. Senate Productivity Award is AK Steel-Rockport Works, a Rockport, Indiana, producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, and tubular products. It operates seven steelmaking and finishing plants in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and two tubing plants in Ohio and Indiana. The company attained three years of zero lost workdays and restricted-duty injuries, and a total recordable incident rate more than eight times lower than the steel industry average in 2005. Its continuous improvement efforts resulted in a 37-percent decrease in cost of quality over the past three years, and it boasts a comprehensive quality system that includes a safety and health program.

Metaldyne, a designer and supplier of metal-based components, was named as runner-up for the prize. The company is located in New Castle, Indiana, and reports that employees participated in 26 kaizen events in 2005, resulting in major improvements throughout the organization.

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