Looking back to last year, Barry Cox, Standards Development Manager at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), served on the judging panel for the Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2025. A graduate of Dublin City University with a Bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering, Cox brought a career defined by the intersection of emerging technology, international standards development, and cross-sector collaboration.

Since joining NSAI in 2019, Cox managed a portfolio of manufacturing committees, playing a central role in promoting Irish involvement in the development of International (ISO) and European (EN) Standards for technologies including additive manufacturing and industrial robotics. His work placed him at the forefront of efforts to ensure that Ireland's manufacturing sector remained engaged with, and influential within the global standards-setting process as new production technologies reshaped the industry landscape.

In practical terms, this meant navigating complex technical discussions across international working groups, representing Irish industry interests, and ensuring that emerging standards reflected the realities of modern manufacturing operations rather than lagging behind them.

A distinctive dimension of Cox's work involved bridging the gap between research and standardisation. By facilitating engagement between researchers and the standardisation process, he contributed to knowledge valorisation supporting innovators and entrepreneurs in translating research outcomes into sustainable, commercially viable products and solutions. His advocacy for the role of researchers and innovators within the broader standardisation community reinforced a vision of manufacturing progress built on collaboration and shared frameworks.

That collaborative ethos extended to his approach to teamwork, informed by years of service in the Reserve Defence Forces and a commitment to the principle that working together drives lasting success.

His involvement reinforced the Manufacturing Excellence Awards' commitment to a judging panel that reflects the full breadth of expertise shaping Ireland's manufacturing sector.

Visit the official Manufacturing Excellence Awards website to explore award categories, review the judging panel, and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and exclusive coverage from Ireland's manufacturing sector.