Pella Named Finalist in Three 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Categories

As Pella Corporation continues to modernize how its products are designed and built, the company has been named a finalist in the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards for its work transforming manufacturing through automation, artificial intelligence and more connected operations. 

Presented by the National Association of Manufacturers, the awards recognize companies driving digital transformation and continuous improvement across the industry. Pella is a finalist in three categories. 

• Revolutionizing Patio Door Design and Manufacturing: Pella’s Smart, Agile, and Automated Transformation (Engineering and Production Processes): Pella reimagined its patio door production by replacing a traditional assembly line with a flexible, cell -based system powered by autonomous guided vehicles and connected digital tools. The transformation improved product quality by 30 percent, increased labor productivity by 25 percent and significantly enhanced on-time delivery.
• Intelligent Manufacturing: Driving Operational Excellence (Operational Excellence): Applying AI directly within its manufacturing processes to identify issues earlier, improve consistency and reduce defects, helping teams focus on the areas that have the greatest impact on product quality and customer experience.
• Supercharging the Future: Pella’s Industrial AI Strategy for Quality and Efficiency at Scale (Artificial Intelligence Vision and Strategy): Pella’s enterprise AI strategy is building the foundation for more connected, data-driven operations, enabling faster decision-making, improved efficiency and scalable innovation across manufacturing. 

“At Pella, our teams are focused on solving complex challenges through better systems and more connected processes—whether it’s improving outcomes for our customers or creating a better experience for our team members,” said Laura Phillips, Vice President of Engineering and Procurement, Pella Corporation. “Being named a finalist across multiple categories reflects the breadth of that work and the progress we’re making across the business. We’re proud of our teams and the way they continue to apply innovation in practical ways that move our capabilities forward.” 

This recognition builds on momentum from 2025, when Pella received the Future of Manufacturing Award for its voice-guided work instructions. 

Pella will be recognized along with other award finalists at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, which will take place on June 24, 2026, at the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, AZ. Winners in all project and individual categories will be announced at that time, along with the Manufacturers of the Year and Manufacturing Leader of the Year.  

Details about the awards are available at https://www.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com/leadership-awards/. 

Learn more about careers at Pella by visiting pella.com/careers