[1] In 1988, Utah State University conferred an honorary doctorate to Shigeo Shingo, a Japanese industrial engineer and author credited for his contribution to many of the principles, elements, theories, and tools associated with the Toyota Production System.

[2] That same year, Utah State University established what was then called the North American Shingo Prizes for Excellence in Manufacturing in his honor.

"[4] In 2004, a "Finalist" category was added to recognize challengers that scored well but didn't meet the Shingo Prize level.

According to Robert Miller, former executive director of the Shingo Institute, "...we began to see small signs of fracture along the edges.

Over time a great many recipients had not only not moved forward but in fact had lost considerable ground and were no longer considered as role models...

[1] With a change in scoring criteria in 2008, the average number of organizations receiving the Shingo Prize each year decreased from 11 to 2.

[9] The Shingo Silver Medallion is awarded to "those [organizations that are] maturing on the journey [to excellence] with primarily a tool and system focus.

"[1] The Shingo Bronze Medallion is awarded to "those [organizations] in the earlier stages of cultural transformation with primarily a tools focus.

"[1] The Shingo Publication Award recognizes and promotes writing that has had a significant impact and advances the body of knowledge regarding operational excellence.

It has historic significance to the development or discovery of principles, systems, concepts, tools, and techniques of organizational excellence.

[14] The following are the recipients of Shingo awards from the time the criteria changed in 2008 to include any industry and to reflect a higher standard of excellence.