The Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program encourages companies to operate at a higher level of efficiency and become more competitive through the implementation and sharing of Best Practices. The BMP Program is funded by the Office of Naval Research to enable the U.S. defense industry and the entire U.S. industrial base improve product price, quality, and delivery.

Survey Reports contain actual practices that the BMP Survey Teams gather, validate and document from U.S. and Canadian companies. Each practice provides the user with basic background, process description, metrics, and a Point of Contact for further information. The number of practices continues to grow as new surveys are completed. The BMP Database of best practices is reviewed on a continual basis by a BMP core team of subject matter experts to ensure the information remains current. Individuals interested in benchmarking, improving processes, and finding solutions to problems without reinventing the wheel are encouraged to access the survey reports.

Through BMP's unique On-site Survey, a company’s practices are gathered, validated, and documented in a survey report. BMP conducts on-site surveys at no charge to U.S. and Canadian organizations willing to share their best-in-class practices. Companies that volunteer to host a BMP Survey receive feedback and recommendations from a BMP Survey Team of experts, enjoy national visibility through the distribution of their published survey report, and are recognized by the BMP Program with the BMP Award for Excellence.

Award Recipients span more than 20 years, dating back to the Program’s inception in 1985. The BMP Award for Excellence honors those companies and organizations that have successfully hosted an on-site survey and shared their best practices with the U.S. industrial base.

BMP Surveys are conducted by the Survey Chairman and a Survey Team of Certified Subject Matter Experts comprised of knowledgeable professionals from government, industry, and academia with experience in the areas being presented. Certified Subject Matter Experts are selected for their expertise in the process disciplines of design, test, production, facilities, logistics, and management.