Manufacturing and Design division (M&D) outstanding practitioner award

The Manufacturing & Design (M&D) Outstanding Practitioner Award (OPA) recognizes M&D Division members for their outstanding accomplishments and impact in manufacturing or design within their organizations, the private sector, or the public sector. The award will be presented annually during the M&D Townhall Meeting at the IISE Annual Conference.

Eligibility Requirements

  • The nominee must be a member of IISE and the Manufacturing and Design Division at the time of submission.
  • Not received the OPA in the previous three years.
  • Demonstrate significant impact in manufacturing or design as evidenced by two or more of the following criteria:
    1. Leadership; leadership within an organization or industry with emphasis on leading projects that have measurable metrics (e.g., impacts on cost, schedule, performance).
    2. Research; excellence in demonstrated research such as published articles.
    3. Implementation; Implementation and/or roll-out of a nominee’s work(s) assessed by measurable metrics.
    4. Innovation; Demonstrated through invention disclosures, intellectual property with great consideration for commercialized patents, or the implementation of standard process in an organization or business sector.
    5. Recognition; Recognized through receipt of prestigious awards from an organizational, an industry, or professional societies.

The period of performance for this award is January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

Nominations are due by February 9, 2025 at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time (UTC -5).

Application/Nomination Process

Nominations by another individual are encouraged. Self-nominations will be accepted.

  • The nomination package must include in a single PDF file:
  • The completed and signed copy of the OPA nomination form.
  • A written summary
    1. Highlighting the nominee’s accomplishments and/or impacts.
    2. Stating how those accomplishments and/or impacts satisfy eligibility criteria
    3. The summary must be no longer than two pages.
  • Curriculum vitae or resume
    • Must include accomplishments and/or impacts related to the OPA.
    • Information may pertain to no earlier than January 1, 2019.
    • Maximum length is 6 pages.
  • Three letters of recommendation
    1. One from a supervisor where the accomplishment/contributions were made (i.e., immediate supervisor, chief engineer, director of engineering)
    2. The other two letters may come from professional peers or colleagues who are within or outside of the nominee’s organization.
    3. All letters must clearly highlight the nominee’s accomplishments as they pertain to the eligibility requirements.
    4. The maximum length for each letter is 2 pages.

Submit nomination package to OPA Selection Committee Chair,  Dr. Lynette Wilcox, by February 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm. ET.

Evaluation Process

  • The OPA selection committee will verify compliance with the eligibility criteria.
  • Nominees will be evaluated by the committee based on the eligibility criteria.
  • The evaluation criteria are equally weighted.
  • The selection committee will evaluate each nominee against the evaluation criteria.
  • The Selection Committee Chairperson will rank the nominees according to their final scores. The nominee with the highest score will be declared the winner.
  • The Selection Committee Chairperson will inform the winner. Notification will occur no later than March 24, 2024.
  • Either the selection committee chairperson or the M&D President-Elect will notify IISE regarding the winner per IISE policies.

An award committee chaired by an appointed member of the M&D board will review all applications following the division’s award evaluation protocols:

Important Dates (Deadlines)

  • Nomianations are due February 9, 2025
  • Winners/Finalists will be notified by March 15, 2025

Recognition

  • First prize winner(s) will receive a certificate with a hardback cover at the M&D townhall meeting at the IISE Annual Conference.
  • Second and Third prize winners will receive a digital certificate and be recognized at the M&D townhall meeting at the IISE Annual Conference.
  • First, second, and third prize winners will be recognized on the M&D webpage and in the M&D newsletter
  • First, second, and third prize winners will be recognized in ISE magazine.

Committee Chair

Dr. Lynette Wilcox

Conflict of Interest Policy

It is imperative to maintain the integrity of the awards programs within IISE and the M&D Division. Therefore, all members of the division shall abide by the following conflict of interest policy requirements.

  • M&D officers and board members are ineligible for M&D awards during their period(s) of service without approval from IISE’s Senior Vice President for Technical Operations (SVP). Exceptions may only be made by the SVP when awards are time sensitive (e.g., Student board member is nominated for Best Student Paper Award, but will graduate before the Annual Conference). In the case of time sensitive awards without SVP approval, the affected officer/members must be recused from the awards processes. For non-time sensitive awards, officers and board members may be nominated for awards after their service on the M&D Division board has ended.
  • Award selection committees shall consist of members who have neither personal nor professional relationships with nominees. Upon knowing that such a conflict arises, the member shall immediately be recused from further participation in the selection process.
  • Award committee members should change annually to ensure fairness, diversity and equality.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Straub.

2022 Winner

Ahmed Eldesouky
Veeco Instruments, Inc.

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