Association for Manufacturing Excellence

What Association for Manufacturing Excellence does

Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, that operates as a practitioner-to-practitioner membership association for the lean and enterprise excellence community. With nearly 4,000 members across 21 regional boards in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, AME delivers its mission "Share, Learn, Grow" through Lean Certification (Yellow, Green, Black Belt progressive tiers), the AME Excellence Awards program (recognition through site-visit assessments at $7K-$10K base fee), the AME Lean Sensei self-assessment tool, Consortia and Champions Club peer-learning programs, the Emerging Leaders pipeline, and Kata/People-Centric Leadership resources.

Revenue is generated across five primary streams: individual and corporate memberships starting at $150/year, registration fees for the annual International Conference (claimed as the world's largest lean conference) and regional summits, Excellence Award site-visit assessments ($7K-$10K base fee plus $1K-$2.5K per-assessor travel), corporate sponsorships, and certification/workshop fees (e.g., Theory of Constraints workshops at $3K-$5K per company). The organization runs a small core staff (approximately 10-15 people) supported by a volunteer board, regional presidents, and a network of practitioners who host benchmarking facility tours.

The technology platform is a web-based system (cvent for conference registration, website membership signup, virtual event delivery via Zoom) supplemented by the Excel-based AME Lean Sensei self-assessment, the 35-year Target Online newsletter, the AME Blog, and TheAMEConnect YouTube channel. The underlying moat is ecosystem-based rather than technology-based: AME's competitive position rests on decades of accumulated practitioner relationships, open-door facility-tour culture, and partnerships with adjacent organizations (Tooling U-SME, Shingo Institute, SME, ASQ, APQC, Goldratt Consulting, FastCap's Paul Akers).

Name

Association for Manufacturing Excellence

Legal name

Association for Manufacturing Excellence

Website

https://ame.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1985 that serves nearly 4,000 lean and enterprise-excellence practitioners worldwide through certification programs, the world's largest lean conference, regional boards, and Excellence Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rolling Meadows

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Memberships: Annual individual membership subscriptions providing access to programs, events, certifications, and member benefits. Starting at $150/year for individuals.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual International Conference, regional summits, workshops, certification programs, and virtual events. Member and non-member pricing tiers.
3. Excellence Award Assessments: Site visit assessment fees for manufacturing plants and healthcare organizations. Member pricing at $8,000, Consortia/Champions Club at $7,000, Non-members at $10,000, plus travel expenses.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from annual international conference and regional summits, providing brand exposure to targeted manufacturing excellence audience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AME is a not-for-profit membership organization delivering practitioner-to-practitioner programs for enterprise excellence and lean manufacturing. Its core offerings include the progressive Lean Certification program (Yellow, Green, Black Belt levels), the Excellence Awards site-visit recognition and assessment program, the annual International Conference (described as the world's largest lean conference), and supplementary programs such as the C-Suite Roundtable Summit, Emerging Leaders Program, AME Consortia, Champions Club, and the Lean Sensei self-assessment tool. Membership, starting at $150/year for individuals, provides access to the network, programs, certifications, discounted events, and resources serving nearly 4,000 members globally.

Product overview

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) is a membership-based professional organization offering a platform of programs, events, and resources for enterprise excellence and lean manufacturing practitioners. The core offerings include the AME Lean Certification program (Yellow, Green, Black Belt levels), AME Lean Sensei self-assessment tool, and AME Excellence Awards for operational excellence recognition. Additional programs include the Emerging Leaders Program, AME Consortia, Champions Club, and Kata Resources for improvement/coaching kata methodology. The organization hosts the annual AME International Conference and C-Suite Roundtable Summit, plus the 2 Second Lean Tour series. The AME-Target Online newsletter and AME Blog provide ongoing content. The portfolio is unified around practitioner-to-practitioner collaboration and continuous improvement, with membership providing access to all programs, events, and the 4,000+ member network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AME Individual & Corporate Membership Annual membership subscription starting at $150/year for individuals, providing access to the 4,000+ global peer network, free and discounted events year-round, exclusive conference pricing, access to tools, programs, and certifications. Available for individuals and corporate organizations.
• AME Lean Certification Progressive certification program with Yellow, Green and Black Belt levels that builds leadership skills, deepens lean tool expertise, and applies practical knowledge to drive enterprise excellence. Designed for lean practitioners and continuous improvement professionals.
• AME Excellence Awards Recognition program for manufacturing and healthcare organizations demonstrating excellence in operations through continuous improvement, best practices, creativity, and innovation. Includes site-visit assessments ($7,000-$10,000 plus travel) with comprehensive feedback reports. Recognized recipients include Flex, Littelfuse, AGCO, Goodyear, IVECO, Kaas Tailored, FGF Brands, and others.
• AME International Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together continuous improvement professionals for peer-led sessions, live facility tours, collaborative discussions, and networking. Held in October each year with member and non-member pricing tiers.
• AME C-Suite Roundtable Summit Exclusive CEO-level roundtable event focused on actionable solutions for navigating emerging technologies and workforce shifts. Annual one-day executive event bringing together C-suite leaders from member organizations.
• AME Lean Sensei Self-assessment tool providing lean systems evaluation questions and scoring methodology for organizations to assess their enterprise excellence maturity across multiple dimensions. Members-only resource used in Excellence Award applications.
• AME Target Online Newsletter Free newsletter delivering continuous improvement news and original content from AME writers, contributors, and industry sources. Has served lean professionals for over 35 years as a content library reaching 100,000+ professionals annually.
• 2 Second Lean Tour Series Virtual and in-person facility tours hosted by Paul Akers demonstrating lean practices in retail and manufacturing environments. Provides members direct exposure to lean implementation in action.
• AME - SME Lean Alliance Online Training Online manufacturing training curriculum packages covering core manufacturing job roles including additive manufacturing, assembly, engineering, quality, machining, maintenance, and welding. Combines online classes with on-the-job training, delivered through Tooling U-SME partnership.
• Theory of Constraints (TOC) Workshops Two-day in-person and virtual workshops on Theory of Constraints flow solutions, delivered in partnership with Goldratt Consulting. Held at locations such as Mukilteo, WA and via webinar series.
• AME Champions Club Community for experienced lean practitioners to continue their enterprise excellence journey and mentor others, providing benefits such as reduced-rate Excellence Award assessment pricing ($7,000).
• AME Consortia Collaborative groups organized by region that facilitate shared learning and benchmarking among practitioners in local areas. Members participate in peer-led improvement projects and facility tours.
• Emerging Leaders Program Program focused on developing the next generation of enterprise excellence leaders through peer learning and practitioner-to-practitioner engagement, hosted by Becca Jenkins as Director.
• Kata Resources Program Improvement and coaching kata resources including Toyota Kata methodology, articles, videos and starter kits for practicing scientific thinking and continuous improvement habits.
• Mac McCulloch Lifetime Achievement Award Individual recognition award established in 2004 recognizing commitment and dedication of individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing enterprise excellence in manufacturing through AME.
• AME Hall of Fame Recognition of industry thought leaders and influencers who support enterprise excellence values, principles and practices, with annual induction of appropriate candidates.
• People-Centric Leadership Resources Curated resources and materials supporting people-centric leadership frameworks aligned with enterprise excellence principles, led by Director Lisa Weis.
• Manufacturing Job Board Job board hosted by AME connecting manufacturing professionals with career opportunities at organizations committed to enterprise excellence principles and lean culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 4,000 members across wide variety of industries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Women In ManufacturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational trade association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry. AME partners with WiM on initiatives to advance women in manufacturing careers.
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier organization for manufacturing professionals. AME collaborates with SME on the Lean Alliance, shared educational content, and mutual member benefits.
• Shingo InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization dedicated to enterprise excellence through research, education and推广应用 of the Shingo Model. AME partners on enterprise excellence initiatives.
• Supply Chain NowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of supply chain and manufacturing excellence topics. AME benefits from content distribution and thought leadership amplification.
• Quality MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner covering quality management and manufacturing topics. Partnership supports AME thought leadership and member outreach.
• Gemba AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner focused on lean and continuous improvement education. Supports AME content distribution and member resources.
• Plant EngineeringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade publication covering plant engineering and operations topics. Media partnership supports AME member engagement.
• American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit organization specializing in benchmarking and best practices research. AME partners to provide members access to benchmarking resources and best practice knowledge.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading quality organization with global membership. AME collaborates on quality and excellence initiatives for mutual members.
• Virginia Technical AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing training and professional development resources for manufacturing professionals.
• Tooling U-SMEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership to deliver online manufacturing training curriculum packages. Covers core manufacturing job roles including additive manufacturing, assembly, engineering, quality, maintenance, welding. Training combines online classes with on-the-job training.
• Goldratt ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFounded by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, inventor of Theory of Constraints (TOC). Provides TOC training and consulting services for AME events and workshops. AME hosts TOC flow solutions workshops and webinar series featuring Goldratt consultants.
• Paul Akers / FastCapcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAuthor of '2 Second Lean' and owner of FastCap. Hosts AME's 2 Second Lean Tour series, providing virtual facility tours demonstrating lean practices in action for member learning.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shingo Institute: Organization dedicated to enterprise excellence through the Shingo Model, offering workshops, conferences, and awards. Directly comparable to AME in lean/enterprise excellence focus and awards-based recognition model.
• American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC): Nonprofit specializing in benchmarking and best practices research. Directly comparable as an excellence-focused nonprofit serving process improvement professionals; AME has a strategic partnership with APQC.
• Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI): Nonprofit founded by James Womack focused on disseminating lean thinking. Directly comparable as a lean-focused educational and conference organization serving overlapping practitioner audiences.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ): Leading global professional association for quality practitioners. Directly comparable as a quality/operational excellence membership organization serving overlapping practitioner audiences; AME maintains a strategic partnership with ASQ.
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME): Premier US-based professional membership organization for manufacturing engineers. Directly comparable to AME in mission and audience; AME already maintains a formal Lean Alliance partnership with SME, validating the close comparability.
• Women in Manufacturing (WiM): National trade association supporting women in manufacturing. Comparable as a manufacturing-focused membership organization with a community/advocacy mission; AME has a formal strategic partnership with WiM.
• Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM, formerly APICS): Premier association for supply chain and operations management professionals. Comparable to AME in serving operations/manufacturing practitioners with certifications (CPIM, CSCP) and a member-driven conference model.

Emerging players

• Deming Institute: Nonprofit advancing the teachings of W. Edwards Deming. Comparable as a smaller lean/quality philosophy organization offering training, certifications, and an annual summit that overlaps with AME's lean practitioner audience.
• Catalyst (formerly KaiNexus): Technology-enabled continuous improvement platform serving many of the same enterprise customers as AME. Comparable as it competes for the same CI budget, but delivers software-led engagement rather than AME's community/conference model.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): Largest US manufacturing trade association. Comparable as a manufacturing membership organization, but operating at a much broader industry advocacy level rather than AME's practitioner-to-practitioner lean focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheAMEConnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-association-for-manufacturing-excellence
• Xx.com/ameconnect
• Facebookfacebook.com/ameconnect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association for Manufacturing Excellence