Benchmark competition and congress for production excellence in industry
A.T. Kearney GmbH / Ultima Media Germany GmbH – FABRIK DES JAHRES
Düsseldorf · Munich (Hultschiner Straße 8) · Landsberg am Lech (Justus-von-Liebig-Straße 1)New on Amplifa
About FABRIK DES JAHRES
FABRIK DES JAHRES is a benchmark competition for industrial production that has been systematically analyzing, comparing and honoring production sites in Europe for more than 35 years. The competition is organized by A.T. Kearney GmbH, based in Düsseldorf; the accompanying congress is organized by Ultima Media Germany GmbH with locations in Munich and Landsberg am Lech. The competition evaluates production sites in six categories, including Factory of the Year (overall winner), GEO Award, Outstanding Volume Production, Outstanding Small-Series Production, Outstanding Digitalization & Automation, and Outstanding Transformation: Site. It is based on a structured analysis process with data collection, site visits by a Kearney audit team and jury evaluation; all participants receive a detailed, confidential feedback report. At the annual congress, award-winning plants present their best practices; the program includes keynotes, plant tours, a Startup Challenge, a trade exhibition and a gala with award ceremony. The target audience is plant and production management as well as those responsible for Operational Excellence, Lean Management, digitalization, quality, maintenance and supply chain in manufacturing companies.
- Site
- Düsseldorf
- Processes
- Benchmark competition for industrial production (FABRIK DES JAHRES), Congress with best practices, keynotes and plant tour, Detailed, confidential feedback report for participants, On-site audits by the Kearney audit team, Startup Challenge for production technology, Trade exhibition at the congress, Gala with award ceremony
- Materials
- Benchmark Competition, Site Audit, Feedback Report, Congress, Startup Challenge
- Certificates
- Independent expert advisory boards, On-site audits by Kearney
- Industries
- Manufacturing companies / manufacturing industry, Automotive and supplier industry, Electrical and plant engineering, Medical technology, Mechanical engineering, Target audience: plant and production management, Operational Excellence, Lean
- 01
Online application with detailed questionnaire
- 02
Data collection and evaluation
- 03
Confidential feedback report for all participants
- 04
On-site audits by the Kearney audit team
- 05
Expert feedback and jury evaluation
- 06
Congress with best practices, plant tour and gala with award ceremony
Services and Format
Benchmark Competition
Systematic analysis and comparison of production sites from different industries.
Site Audit
On-site visits to the candidates by an experienced Kearney audit team.
Feedback Report
Detailed, confidential evaluation of your own position compared to companies with a similar starting situation.
Congress
Two-day event with keynotes, winner presentations, trade exhibition, plant tour and gala.
Startup Challenge
Pitch competition for startups with innovative technologies and solutions for production technology.
Locations
A.T. Kearney GmbH, Düsseldorf
DECompetition organizer
Ultima Media Germany GmbH, Munich
DECongress organizer
Ultima Media Germany GmbH, Landsberg am Lech
DECongress organizer location
Competition Categories
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Evaluation Process
The competition is based on a structured analysis process with sound data collection, site visits and evaluation by independent expert advisory boards.
| Evidence | A.T. Kearney GmbH, Düsseldorf | Ultima Media Germany GmbH, Munich |
|---|---|---|
| Independent expert advisory boards | ||
| On-site audits by Kearney |
History
- ca. 1991
The FABRIK DES JAHRES competition has existed for more than 35 years; the 35th competition will take place in 2027.
- 2025
Rittal Plant Haiger becomes overall winner FABRIK DES JAHRES 2025; up to 9,000 compact enclosures per day, delivery times of 24 h in Europe and 48 h worldwide.
- 2026
Congress on 18–19 February at Westfalenhalle Dortmund; eighth Startup Challenge; winners include SEW-EURODRIVE (volume production) and Eppendorf Zentrifugen (Transformation: Site).
- 2027
Congress on 9–10 March at Rittal in Herborn with a plant tour of Rittal Plant Haiger and gala at the Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection; application deadline for the 35th competition: 31 July 2026.