MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

(MEP) works with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, 

increase profits, and save time and money.

ANNUAL REPORT 2013
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© 2014 Manufacturing Extension Partnership Annual Report

Image(s) Source: Dill, Kristen. (2014) MEP Clients. Retrieved from Manufacturing Extension Partnership database.
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About NIST MEP 04

Our Program Highlights 07

Our Partnership Highlights 16

Economic Impact 24

MEP Advisory Board 26

National Network 28

Our Centers 29

TABLE OF

CONTENTS
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NIST MEP is a nationwide network of technical experts and business 

advisers who work with small- and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers, 

helping these businesses identify growth opportunities. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership (MEP) works with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them create 

and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money.

As a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, MEP offers a range of effective 

resources to help manufacturers identify opportunities that will accelerate and strengthen 

their growth and competitiveness in the global marketplace. 

ABOUT

OUR PROGRAM

Proudly Serving U.S. Manufacturers since 1988.

MEP is a catalyst for 

strengthening American 

manufacturing.
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MEP AT GLANCE

MEP Network

30,131

$123 Million

1:19 Ratio

Partners

Nationwide System of Centers

The MEP program is built around the nationwide network of centers 

locally positioned throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. With more than 

400 centers in every state and Puerto Rico, about 1,200 MEP experts and 

over 2,800 third party service providers work together to help make U.S. 

manufacturers—and the U.S. economy—stronger. 

Manufacturers Served in 2013

Our national network of MEP Centers worked with over 30,000 

manufacturers last year to help them increase profits, create jobs and 

establish a foundation for long-term business growth and productivity.

MEP Federal Budget

The total budget of the national network of MEP Centers is about $300 

Million. One-third of this is provided by the federal government with 

the remainder coming from the state and industry sources. The federal 

contribution in FY2013 was $123 million, with more than three-quarters 

going directly to the centers.

High Return on Investments

For every one dollar of federal investment, the MEP generates nearly $19 

in new sales growth and $21 in new client investment. This translates into 

$2.2 billion in new sales annually. For every $1,978 of federal investment, 

MEP creates or retains one manufacturing job. 

MEP Partnership Model

MEP’s strength is in its partnerships. Our program works with partners to 

leverage resources and bring those resources to manufacturing clients. 

MEP partnerships are found in three primary arenas: Federal, State, and 

Industry.
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Making an Impact on U.S. Manufacturing.

MEP

STRATEGY

MISSION: To enhance the productivity and technological performance of U.S. manufacturing

ROLE: MEP’s state and regional centers facilitate and accelerate the transfer of manufacturing 

technology in partnership with industry, universities and educational institutions, state 

governments, and NIST and other federal research laboratories and agencies. 

STRENGTHS

National Program with at least one center in 

every state.

Federal/State, public-private partnership with 

local flexibility.

Cost share policy that matches federal 

investment with state and private sector 

investments.

Market Driven program that responds to the 

needs of private sector manufacturers.

Leverage partnering expertise as strategic 

advantage.

Local knowledge of, focus on, and access to 

manufacturers.

STRATEGIC GOALS

Enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers, with particular focus on small 

and medium-sized companies.

Serve as a voice to and a voice for manufacturing and manufacturers in engaging 

policy makers, stakeholders, and clients.

Support national, state, and regional manufacturing eco-systems and partnerships.

Develop MEP’s capabilities as a learning organization and high performance system.

Enhance 

Competitiveness

Champion 

Manufacturing

Support Partnerships

Develop Capabilities
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2013 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Supply Chain

The MEP Supply Chain initiative 

helps manufacturers strategically 

understand, maintain and expand 

their positions in domestic and 

global supply chains. 

MEP celebrated its 25th year in 2013. We are proud of the work our system does to support U.S. 

manufacturers from process improvements, to growth, to sustainability, and so much more. MEP is 

dedicated to supporting this vital industry. Two areas of particular interest across the manufacturing sector 

and this Administration include supply chain and workforce. In 2013, MEP built upon an already strong 

foundation to enhance our role and contributions in these areas. 

Workforce

MEP works with partners to 

leverage resources and offers a 

wide range of services focused on 

helping manufacturers integrate 

workforce strategies with broader 

business goals.

25th Anniversary

In 2013, we reflected on 25 

successful years. What started 

out as a handful of MEP Centers 

in the early 90s has grown into a 

nationwide network transforming 

manufacturers in every state.

Connecting to Compete

Developing America’s skills

Building a strong future
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SUPPLY CHAIN

MEP serves a vital and diverse role as a nationwide 

provider of hands-on technical and business assistance 

supporting the development and competitiveness of 

manufacturing supply chains. Recent MEP research 

has revealed that many manufacturers suffer from a 

lack of collaboration and visibility in their supply chains, 

especially in the tiers furthest from the customer. 

As a result, the true total cost of ownership is not 

understood, and there are significant opportunities 

to streamline and enhance the operations of most 

supply chains at many levels.

Why is this important? The global competitiveness of 

U.S. manufacturing depends on the performance of 

companies at all levels or tiers of a supply chain, as well 

as on how the elements of supply chains work together, 

along with the responsiveness of supply chain output to 

global market demand. By working with supply chains 

as a whole, as well as with individual manufacturers, 

MEP assistance results in high-performing supply 

chains that collaborate through multiple tiers, creating 

the capability to develop, manufacture, and distribute 

new or improved products more rapidly.

MEP offers a variety of supply chain services to U.S. 

manufacturers to cover the different aspects of 

supply chain management and development. From 

implementing strategies within the walls of a company 

to engaging with new markets around the world, 

MEP has the tools and strategies needed to help 

manufacturers throughout the supply chain reach 

their growth goals. 

Providing Vital Assistance to Supply Chain 

Competitiveness and Growth.
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MEP is a unique national resource with broad and deep access to the nation’s manufacturers that constitute our 

economy’s supply chains. By working with manufacturers to help them strategically understand, maintain and 

expand their positions in both current and potential supply chain conditions, MEP is making a meaningful impact 

on manufacturing supply chains.

Supply Chain Assistance

Supply Chain Optimization

Provides manufacturers a platform to help build 

dynamic supply chains through the use of strategy, 

risk management, total cost of ownership, supplier 

communication, and supplier assessments.

Supplier Improvement

Works with individual suppliers within specific supply 

chains to implement process improvement and quality 

enhancement initiatives at all tiers.

Supplier Scouting

Connects U.S. manufacturers with the supply chain needs 

and business opportunities of various manufacturing 

supply chains and government agencies. This also includes 

supply chain re-shoring efforts.

Supply Chain Technology Acceleration

Helps U.S. manufacturers grow and compete within supply 

chains by focusing on the technological needs and trends 

of specific supply chains.

Supply Chain Sustainability

Provides manufacturers with sustainability assessments of 

production processes, and assists with the implementation 

of energy-saving projects to reduce supplier impacts on 

the environment.

MEP supports supply chains through the following framework elements:

 Supply Chain Optimization Supplier Scouting

$2 M

Increased sales

100+

Connections

 Supplier Improvement

$1.5 M

Investment

The program has been piloted 

with several companies with 

favorable results, including Syn 

Strand, of South Carolina, which 

saved more than $2 million in 

increased sales and retained 8 

jobs as a result of the program

The program helped identify 

connections for OEMs

and government agencies in 

need of domestic suppliers 

for applications within various 

supply chains, including 

transportation, energy, defense, 

and consumer products, among 

others.

Accelerate, a supplier improvement 

project, focuses on Manufacturing 

Critical-Path Time (MCT) metric. 

In 6 years MEP has had over 440 

projects with suppliers for 28 

OEMs in 32 states. Received $1.5M 

investment to work with defense 

contractors, and averaged 45% 

reduction in MCT.
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WORKFORCE

Building the Manufacturing Workforce

Addressing the workforce issues facing US 

manufacturers is being done through many local 

and national initiatives, with MEP focusing our efforts 

in a more concerted fashion this past year. At the 

national level, NIST MEP is working to align our 

efforts with Secretary Pritzker’s “Open for Business” 

Agenda, including the Department of Commerce’s 

new Strategic Plan with a focus on “accelerating the 

development of industry-led skills strategies that 

result in a productive workforce for employers and 

in high quality jobs for workers.” In addition, MEP 

is aligned with the President’s Jobs-Driven Training 

Agenda, including a multi-agency Jobs-Driven 

Checklist which emphasizes employer engagement, 

public-private partnerships, work-based learning, 

connected education and training strategies, use of 

labor market and career information and clear and 

demonstrable outcomes. 

Through partnerships with community colleges, 

Workforce Investment Boards, and other federal 

agencies we support workforce issues such as skills 

development, industry-recognized credentials, and 

work-based learning. This includes serving as a 

co-producer for MFG DAY as a significant means to 

increase awareness of the industry and its career 

opportunities, participating in the US Department 

of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Committee, 

and involving centers in cross-agency initiatives 

such as the Building Construction Technology 

Extension Program to identify and train in sustainable 

manufacturing methods and energy efficiency. Last 

year we also launched a pilot of a software program 

called SMARTalent (Strategic Management Acquisition 

and Retention of Talent) that will help manufacturing 

clients link their business growth plans with their 

talent management needs and operations to support 

the clients’ business goals.

Through partnerships, MEP delivers training and 

workforce assistance to U.S. manufacturers.
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MAGNET, MEP Center of northeast 

Ohio: works with initiatives such as 

Dream It. Do It. on workforce and 

talent management and is currently 

performing all manner of workforce 

services such as strategic audits, 

pipeline and future skill needs and 

services, training, and advocacy.

Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE)

participates in the Train Employees 

Now (TEN) program to certify skills and 

works with the state to find companies 

to train their workforce.

Rhode Island MEP sits on the 

Governor’s Workforce Board, are 

in their second year of a career 

pathways ONRAMPS program, 

receiving Workforce Investment Board 

training grants to train manufacturers, 

and are developing the first non-union 

Registered Apprenticeship in the 

state.

LOCAL WORKFORCE INITIATIVES

Catalyst Connection, MEP Center of 

southwest PA: launched workforce 

pipeline initiatives more than 12 years 

ago and now offers three internships 

for college students, public school 

students, and the unemployed youth:

• Adventures in Technology 

program for students who want 

to learn advanced engineering

• Explore New Manufacturing 

program providing teacher 

professional development 

and connecting teachers with 

manufacturers, and 

• BotsIQ robotics competition 

involving partnerships with high 

schools and manufacturers to 

build the robots.

The BotsIQ program has exploded 

locally with 40 schools and 500 

students participating annually in the 

robot-building competition.

MassMEP created a collaborative 

of more than 100 SMMs called the 

Manufacturing Advancement Center in 

Workforce Collaboration and brought 

in a college to assist with certification. 

The model has been adopted by 

colleges throughout the state and 

they are working with post-secondary 

and vocational schools on training 

towards jobs and pre-apprenticeships. 

Manufacturing Resource Center 

partners with Dream It. Do It. on the 

Lehigh Valley Skill Up Partnership to 

inspire tomorrow’s manufacturing 

professionals and offers a series of 

programs and events, an adopt-aschool program for companies to help 

build the next generation technical 

workforce, and a popular Student 

Video Contest.

19 teams representing 16 school 

districts entered the “what’s cool 

about manufacturing” video contest. 

More than 123,000 votes were 

casted.

Workforce issues are a major challenge reported by many U.S. manufacturers. MEP Centers across the country 

are using innovative initiatives to help support companies’ workforce needs. Examples include:
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25 years ago, legislation was 

signed into law creating the MEP 

program. What started out as a 

handful of MEP Centers in the early 

90s has grown into a nationwide 

network serving manufacturers 

in every state. MEP is a publicprivate partnership working across 

government and industry to identify 

the needs of manufacturers, 

present opportunities for growth, 

and foster a competitive industry. 

Since 1988, MEP has worked with 

nearly 76,000 manufacturers 

leading to $79 billion in sales and 

$12.8 billion in savings. MEP’s 

work has helped create more 

than 636,000 jobs, which have 

also generated more than $20 

billion in total investment in U.S. 

manufacturing.

In anticipation of this milestone, 

we reflect on events of the last 

two and a half decades that 

significantly impacted the global 

economy, manufacturing, and 

the Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership. MEP has taken its 

cues from the lessons of global 

opportunities and challenges, and 

the daily changes of our client 

base. The program’s value and 

effectiveness will be measured 

in the impact of our services and 

the evolving tide of progress and 

growth of our clients.

25TH ANNIVERSARY

Proudly Serving U.S. Manufacturers since 1988

A program of value and effectiveness.
Proudly Serving roudly Serving U..S. Manufacturers since 1988! . Manufacturers since 1988!

EMPHASIZING 

the importance of U.S.

manufacturingto the economy

IDENTIFYING 

emerging andexpanded

opportunities for manufacturers

FORGING 

partnerships with other agencies

for increased funding opportunities

Initiatives help manufacturers 

with supply chain effectiveness 

and leverage technological 

enhancements

Make It In America highlights the importance 

of U.S. manufacturing by showcasing the 

contributions of manufacturers nationwide 

Exporting programs help manufacturers enter 

foreign markets and increase international 

sales

serving American manufacturers 

in each state

aimed to solve 

manufacturers’ challenges. 

impacted by MEP since 

1988, resulting in jobs and 

economic growth.

SYSTEM OF CENTERS LOCAL MEP EXPERTS TOTAL MEP CLIENTS

Sustainability programs guide manufacturers 

on “going green” in response to 

environmental changes

National Manufacturing Day highlights the 

exciting and diverse career opportunities in 

manufacturing to youth

Helping clients build a strong future 

for their businesses, workers and 

the nation 

NATIONWIDE OVER 1300 76,563

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Evolution of the Global Economy, 

Manufacturing and MEP

Since 1988, the MEP nationwide network has helped thousands of manufacturers reinvent themselves, increase profits, create jobs and establish a foundation for long term growth and productivity:

MEP remains a valued program of the U.S. Department of Commerce and continues to help manufacturers 

become more innovative, profitable and globally competitive

As the global economy continues to evolve, the MEP nationwide network strengthens the U.S. manufacturing 

community by:
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OUR JOINT EFFORTS

The Advanced Manufacturing 

Jobs and Innovation Accelerator 

Challenge is a multi-agency 

partnership focused to help 

revitalize American manufacturing 

and encourage companies to 

invest in the United States. 

Technology Jobs and Innovation

Acceleration

MFG Day

The five Manufacturing Technology 

Acceleration Centers (MTAC’s) 

offers manufacturers services and 

expertise relating to technology 

acceleration, transition and 

commercialization within specific 

supply chains.

Make it in America

The Make it in America Challenge 

is a multi-agency partnership 

designed to accelerate the trend 

of insourcing, where companies 

are bringing jobs back and making 

additional investments in America.

MFG DAY empowers 

manufacturers to come 

together to address their 

collective challenges so they 

can help their communities and 

future generations thrive.

Partnerships are vital to all successful organizations. It’s so important to MEP that it’s part of our name; 

partnerships enable the work our nationwide system delivers to and for manufacturers. Each year, MEP 

proactively builds upon existing partnerships and develops new ones to focus on key national needs. At the 

federal level, MEP engages with other agencies. State partners are critical to the success of our state-based MEP 

Centers, including those that host local MEP centers to provide direct assistance to the state’s manufacturers. 

MEP also works with the National Governor’s Academy. We’re also grateful to our countless professional and trade 

association partners, such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Association for Manufacturing Technology, 

and the National Association of Manufacturers. 
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The MEP program enables manufacturing communities to strengthen and stay on the cutting edge of innovation 

by providing them with funding opportunities through our partnerships.

WORKING TOGETHER
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To improve small and medium size 

U.S. manufacturers’ supply chain 

competitiveness and the rates 

at which they adopt technology, 

MEP started five M-TAC pilot 

projects. These projects offer small 

manufacturers a variety of services 

and deep expertise relating to 

technology acceleration, transition 

and commercialization within 

specific supply chains.

Working within targeted supply 

chains to understand their 

technological needs and trends, 

the M-TAC pilot projects identify 

where manufacturers most need 

assistance in adopting or adapting 

technology. The projects test and 

demonstrate business models that 

will allow small manufacturers to 

access the technology transition 

and commercialization services 

they need, and to help them form 

beneficial partnerships. M-TAC’S 

will help close the gap between 

research performed by universities 

and federal labs and the readiness 

of small manufacturers to adopt 

existing and emerging technologies 

and better compete in their 

respective supply chains. The 

projects will also serve as pilots 

to guide future NIST investment 

and to develop strategies and 

approaches for providing similar 

services broadly across the MEP 

system.

TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATION

Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (MTAC’s)

Strengthening Manufacturing Supply Chains.

Supply Chain
Defense / Aerospace Supply 

Chain M-TAC

Focuses on the defense and 

aerospace-related innovation 

ecosystem in Texas to identify ecosystem gaps and 

strategies to fill those gaps, and map differentiated 

research, advanced technology, and intellectual 

property resources for Defense/Aerospace and 

related supply chains within Texas. Centers: Texas 

Manufacturing Assistance Center 

Food Processors M-TAC

Works with the Northwest 

Food Processors Association to 

identify technical and business 

challenges faced by small manufacturers in the 

food processing supply chains of the northwest 

U.S., and also to identify new product and process 

technologies appropriate to these challenges. 

Centers: Oregon MEP, Impact Washington and 

Idaho TechHelp

Great Lakes M-TAC

Targets the specific needs of key 

Wisconsin driver industries (e.g., 

transportation equipment, electrical equipment, 

paper, dairy, and foundries) and existing and 

emerging supply chains to access and apply 

advanced manufacturing technology acceleration 

services that help small manufacturers to be 

globally competitive. Centers: University of 

Wisconsin-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center, 

and Wisconsin MEP

Southeast Automotive 

M-TAC

Works with state Automotive 

Manufacturer Associations 

and automotive OEMs in the Southeast U.S. to 

determine technology needs of the automotive 

supply chain and effectively connects small 

manufacturer auto suppliers with R&D 

capabilities and available technologies . Centers: 

Georgia MEP, Alabama Technology Network, 

Innovate MEP Mississippi, South Carolina MEP 

and Tennessee MEP

Transportation M-TAC

Addresses the Transportation 

Equipment Manufacturing supply 

chain, encompassing aerospace, automotive, 

trucking, shipping and rail, and works with TopTier manufacturers to identify their technology 

needs as well as small suppliers to assist 

their implementation of specific technologies. 

Centers: California Manufacturing Technology 

Consulting, GENEDGE Alliance (VA), the Illinois 

Manufacturing Excellence Center, and the 

Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (CA).

The following five projects are operating as M-TAC pilots:

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The AMJIAC projects are half way 

through the three-year grant 

cycle. In 2012, 10 public-private 

partnerships were awarded 

$20 million to support the 

creation and strengthening of 

regional partnerships capable 

of accelerating innovation and 

growing a region’s capacity for 

advanced manufacturing. This 

funding has been used for activities 

such as worker training programs 

or connecting manufacturers to 

resources like national labs or 

universities.

These public-private partnerships 

are comprised of small and large 

business, colleges, nonprofits and 

other local entities “clustered” in 

a particular area. Their focus is to 

spur job creation through projects 

that will connect innovative small 

suppliers with large companies, link 

research with start-ups that can 

commercialize new ideas, and train 

workers with the right skills needed. 

Federal funding and support is 

from the Economic Development 

Agency, NIST, Departments of 

Energy and Labor, Small Business 

Administration. Highlights of the 

winning initiatives:

• Located in Arizona, California, 

Michigan, New York (2 

awards), Oklahoma, Oregon, 

Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and 

Washington – all of which involve 

their state’s MEP Center

• $2M each to fund projects

• Will train 1,000 workers

• Expected to help 650 

companies leverage their 

cluster’s resources in their 

regions and create jobs across 

the country

 

Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator 

Challenge (AMJIAC)

National Effort to Spur Job Creation and 

Economic Growth.

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JOBS AND INNOVATION
Each AMJIAC grant involves five separate but coordinated projects in which MEP centers are responsible for 

leading one of these five projects. MEP-led activities include providing market intelligence, conducting company 

outreach, identifying company needs, connecting SMMs to services and OEMs, and delivering focused technical 

assistance. Benefits realized by Centers include:

• New project work • Leveraged Resources

• Increased exposure and awareness • Pilot opportunities for new products or services

• New partnerships with stakeholder groups and service providers

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Region Focus of overall AMJIAC project

Southern Arizona Develop the 6-county region’s Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Cluster.

Northern 

California

Build a stronger regional innovation ecosystem to support biomedical manufacturing in the San 

Francisco East Bay region.

Southeast 

Michigan

Promote new product manufacturing capability within existing Southeast Michigan contract 

manufacturers.

Rochester, New 

York

Accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized companies in the region’s optics, photonics, and 

imaging cluster.

Syracuse, New 

York

Support small and medium-sized companies that manufacture thermal and environmental control 

systems.

Oklahoma Increase the innovative capacity and profitability of small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in 

the oil and gas cluster; the focus is on manufacturers in 44 low-income Oklahoma counties.

Southwest 

Pennsylvania

Leverage the region’s strengths in metal manufacturing and electrical equipment solutions to support 

innovation in three regionally significant industries (energy, life sciences and advanced electronics).

Delaware Valley, 

Pennsylvania

Accelerate the ability of companies, particularly in the transportation equipment manufacturing 

industry, to identify and commercialize new product or service innovations.

East Tennessee Build additive manufacturing capacity of the region’s manufacturers by connecting them to the 

region’s many significant resources (e.g., Oak Ridge National Laboratory) and services.

Washington - 

Oregon

Promote growth in the region’s advanced materials and metals industries through greater regional 

collaboration.

Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge Project Goals

Tennessee Success Spotlight: Eagle Bend Manufacturing, an automotive parts manufacturer, was seeking to 

reduce costs of laser cutting martensite material (hard form of steel) for one of their automotive OEM’s, while 

meeting the dimensional and structural requirements required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 

and Regulations. The company engaged with the East Tennessee AMP! and resources made available from its 

partners at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, (Department of Energy’s largest science and energy laboratory) 

for assistance.

Through this partnership, the company was able to test, analyze and create a new cost-saving hot stamping 

process improvement that also met the necessary structural requirements. The new process not only gained 

commercial and customer approval ensuring the company’s multi-million dollar contract to continue, but it also 

positioned Eagle Bend Manufacturing’s plant as a leader among its competitors worldwide. 
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Ten MEP Centers in nine states 

were awarded 3-year grants 

totaling $1.2M from MEP, which is 

in addition to the $20.5M in Make 

it in America funding from other 

participating agencies. The Make it 

in America Challenge attempts to 

make it more attractive for business 

to build, continue or expand 

operations in the U.S. 

MEP Centers will working with 

partners in their state on a variety 

of strategies to accelerate job 

creation, foster foreign direct 

investment, encourage U.S. 

companies to keep/expand 

business here, build strong supply 

chains, and train local workers. 

The following MEP Centers will receive 

$125,00 per year for three years 

to support their regional Make it in 

America Teams

• Maine MEP

• Michigan Manufacturing 

Technology Center

• Innovate MEP Mississippi

• Missouri Enterprise

• Ohio Development Services 

Agency: 2 awards

• Oregon Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership 

• Northeastern Pennsylvania 

Industrial Resource Center

• South Carolina MEP

• Impact Washington

MAKE IT IN AMERICA

Make it In America Challenge (MIIA)

Committed to Fostering Innovation.
The Maine Mid Coast Regional Innovation 

Initiative: The project will improve 

regional infrastructure by renovating a 

former Navy maintenance repair facility to 

create an advanced manufacturing accelerator and 

transforming it from military to civilian re-use.

Building Capacity and Capability in 

the Bio-Based Manufacturing Sector in 

Michigan: This project will work to bridge 

gaps between current manufacturing 

capabilities and the necessary materials, workforce 

skills, and resources to expand the bio-based 

material sector.

Reshoring and Advanced Manufacturing 

Jobs in Mississippi: This project will create 

sourcing opportunities for manufacturers 

within regional supply chains through 

a series of assistance projects, manufacturing 

internships and certificate workshops with the state 

University. 

Missouri SMR Project: This project 

aims to develop the supply chain and 

infrastructure to support the manufacture 

of small modular reactors (SMRs) - the next wave of 

power generation for the nuclear industry.

Ohio MEP Advanced Material 

Manufacturing in Advanced Energy, 

Biomedical and Automotive Market 

Segments: This project supports reshoring, foreign direct investment, expansion of 

domestic manufacturing by US companies, and 

training local workers for three industry sectors in NE 

Ohio: biomedical, automotive, and advanced energy. 

Make it in Appalachian Ohio: This 

project seeks to increase reshoring and 

strengthen the workforce in the region’s 

metal fabrication, polymer and chemicals, 

and wood furniture manufacturing industries.

Make it in the Willamette Valley, Oregon:

This project will build regional capacity, 

conduct business outreach, strengthen 

supply chain connections, restructure an area 

consortium, and increase incumbent workers training 

and on-the-job training.

PA Made Again: This project focuses on 

the Reshoring Initiative, covering a 52 

county region to create jobs in chemicals, 

fabricated metals, machinery, paper, plastics/

rubber industries by building connected networks 

of industrial clusters, connecting manufacturers and 

colleges and research institutions, and building a 

pipeline of middle-skilled and highly-skilled workers.

Select SC: This project will support 

workforce development, economic 

development and job creation in 12 

counties in South Carolina through increased 

educational access, increasing training and education, 

as well as to implement a strategy to increase 

efficiency in industry supply chain management.

Make it in Washington Project:

This project will identify and utilize 

manufacturing subject matter experts 

outside the Seattle area and will provide strategic 

business planning, access to capital, creation of an 

Asset Map, advanced educational opportunities to 

potential employees, and participate in state trade 

missions to recruit foreign direct investments.

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22

The second annual Manufacturing 

Day (MFG DAY) on October 4, 2013 

was a rousing success. The national 

co-producers include NIST MEP, 

the Fabricators and Manufacturers 

Association, National Association of 

Manufacturers, The Manufacturing 

Institute, Industrial Strength 

Marketing, and media partner 

Science Channel. While the 

national team provides centralized 

resources and promotional 

campaigns across the country, the 

power of grassroots is the key to 

the campaigns success. Thanks 

to the dozens of MEP Centers 

who signed on as Endorsers, 

coordinated events, and promoted 

efforts in their communities 

and states. Almost half of the 

manufacturing hosts were MEP 

clients. Twenty percent of survey 

respondents said they heard about 

MFG DAY from MEP Centers and 

56% indicated they worked with a 

community partner to undertake 

their events. Join us on October 

3, 2014 as we strive to have 1,500 

events across the country!

MILESTONE

MFG DAY

Manufacturing Day

Improving public perception about manufacturing.

77

71

64

Illinois

Florida

Colorado & California

Pennsylvania & Ohio

The states with the highest number of 

official events registered
Students,

Parents

Educators Media

NEWS

Business Community

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Celebrating Manufacturing Day

The first Friday of October marks Manufacturing Day. The movement seeks to improve public perception of 

manufacturing careers and expand understanding of its value to the U.S. economy. Manufacturers open their 

doors to educate the public through open house tours and events.

America Noticed: 2013 MFG Day Results

Manufacturing Day:

Celebrating the 

Backbone of America

Floor speeches delivered in 9Congress

Penske Racing No . 22 

Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion 

race car deck lid featured the 

Manufacturing Day logo at

NASCAR® Sprint Cup

22 Governors issued proclamations

o cially recognizing 

Manufacturing Day

15

Organizations hosted 

open houses and events

834 

Attendees 35,000 +

Learned about Manufacturing Day

through Discovery Communication's 

Science Channel and “How It’s Made”

80 million: News ar ticles published:

Hu ngton Post - Wall Street Journal

Indust ry Week - US News and World

Report - Thomas Net - Boston Globe

+Thousands :
 Sales Cost Savings

$8.4 B

New and Retained

$2.2 Billion in New Sales

$6.2 Billion in Retained Sales

$1.2 B

Cost savings reported by MEP 

clients were in areas such as 

labor, materials, inventory, 

energy and on investments 

made.

 New Investments

$2.5 B

New investments reported 

by MEP clients were in 

plant and equipment., new 

products, processes, and 

research and development

24

FACTS 

IN NUMBERS

Delivering Measurable Results

The MEP program delivers measurable results to its clients. The services provided lead to improvement 

in client sales, investments, and cost savings, as well as increased and retained employment. The data 

provides detail on why clients work with a Center.
Achieving Growth Through MEP.

In 2013 MEP clients reported results in productivity and competitiveness improvements. Twenty seven percent 

of clients reported gaining new customers from services provided by MEP.

Proven Export Assistance Program

 ExporTechTM is national export assistance program that helps companies enter or expand in global 

markets. On average, participating companies generate $770,000 in new export sales.

A Sustainable Approach to Manufacturing | $35 Million in Environmental Savings

Sustainability efforts such as E3-Economy, Energy, and Environment helps manufacturers across the 

nation adapt and thrive in a new business era focused on sustainability.

Continuously Improving Businesses | $360 Million in Cost Savings/Avoidance through 

Lean Services. MEP has a strong record and solid reputation for providing superior lean and quality 

services as well as other programs targeting plant inefficiencies. 

New customers

27% 17%

New Markets

13%

New Products

25

SUSTAINING THE U.S. ECONOMY IN 2013

18,789

 New Jobs

30,131

Manufacturers Served

43,914

 Retained Jobs
26

Dennis Dotson

Chairman

Dotson Iron Casting

Mankato, Minnesota

Roy, A. Church, President

Lorain County Community College

Elyria, Ohio

Mark Rice, President

Maritime Applied Physics Corp.

Baltimore, Maryland

Edward. W. Hill, Dean

Maxine Goodman Levin College of 

Urban Affairs. 

Cleveland, Ohio

Jeffrey Wilcox, VP for Engineering

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Bethesda, Maryland

Eileen Guarino, President & CEO

Greno Industries

Scotia, New York

Rich Scott, Former President 

Quality Filters

Robertsdale, AL

Kellie Johnson, President 

ACE Clearwater Enterprises

Torrance, California

Ed Wolbert, President 

Transaco Products, Inc.

Chicago Illinois

Vickie Wessel

Vice Chair

President of Spirit Electronics, Inc

Phoenix, Arizona

THE 2013

ADVISORY BOARD
The past year was an important one for the MEP Program as it commemorated the 

25th anniversary of its creation. During this time, the public and small and medium 

manufacturers have benefited from the high quality technical services provided by the 

national MEP network. We join in celebrating MEP as the gold standard program for 

public private partnerships. Many key initiatives are underway which will accelerate 

and sustain the program's contributions to increasing the competitiveness of U.S. 

manufacturing and serving U.S. manufacturers. With more than two and a half 

decades of best practices and proven results under its belt and a new strategic plan in 

place, MEP is poised for even greater impact in the next 25 years.

Dennis Dotson,

Chairman

27

MESSAGE 

FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

“We join in celebrating MEP as the gold standard 

program for public private partnerships.”
(formerly CAMT)

28

OUR 

NATIONAL NETWORK

The MEP program is built around the nationwide network of centers locally positioned 

through the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

With more than 400 centers in every state and Puerto Rico, about 1,200 MEP experts and over 2,800 third party 

service providers work together to help make U.S. manufacturers—and the U.S. economy—stronger.

One network helping to make U.S. 

manufacturing stronger.
29

NATIONAL NET WORK

MEP CENTERS

Alabama

Alabama Technology Network

500 Beacon Parkway West, 

Birmingham, AL, 35209

Ph: (205) 943-4808

http://www.atn.org/

Alaska

100 Bureau Drive,

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Ph: (301) 975-5020

www.nist.gov/mep

Arizona

Arizona Commerce Authority

333 North Central Avenue, Ste 1900, 

Phoenix, AZ, 85004

Ph: (602) 845-1200

http://www.azcommerce.com\revaz

Arkansas

Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions

900 West Capitol Avenue, Ste 320, 

Little Rock, AR, 72201

Ph: (800) 637-4634

http://www.mfgsolutions.org

California

California Manufacturing Technology Consulting 

690 Knox Street, Ste 200, 

Torrance, CA, 90502

Ph: (310) 263-3060

http://www.cmtc.com/

Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex)

2010 Crow Canyon Place, Ste 320, 

San Ramon, CA, 94583

Ph: (877) 336-2639

http://www.manexconsulting.com

Colorado

Manufacturers Edge

216 16th Street, Ste 850, Denver, CO, 80202

Ph: (303) 592-4087

http://www.camt.com

Connecticut

Connecticut State Technology Extension Program 

1090 Elm Street, Ste 202, 

Rocky Hill, CT, 06067

Ph: (800) 266-6672

http://www.connstep.org/

MEP Center in every state serving as 

trusted business advisors.
30

Delaware

Delaware Technical and Community College 

400 Stanton-Christiana Road, Ste. A-158, 

Newark, DE, 19713

Ph: (302) 283-3131

http://www.demep.org/

Florida

100 Bureau Drive,

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Ph: (301) 975-5020

www.nist.gov/mep

Georgia

Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership

75 fifth Street NW, Ste 300, 

Atlanta, GA, 30308 

Ph: (404) 894-5217

http://gamep.org/

Hawaii

Innovate Hawaii

2800 Woodlawn Drive, Ste 100, 

Honolulu, HI, 96822

Ph: (808) 539-3601

http://www.htdc.org/innovatehawaii

Idaho

Idaho TechHelp

1910 University Drive, 

Boise, ID, 83725

Ph: (208) 426-3767

http://www.techhelp.org

Illinois

Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center

1501 W. Bradley Avenue

Peoria, IL 61623

Ph: (888) 806-4632

http://www.imec.org

Indiana

Indiana MEP Purdue Technical Assistance Program

6640 Intech Boulevard, Ste 120, 

Indianapolis, IN, 46278

Ph: (800) 877-5182

http://www.mep.purdue.edu

Iowa

Iowa Center for Industrial Research and Service

Iowa State University, Extension 4-H Building, 

Ames, IA, 50011

Ph: (515) 294-3420

http://www.ciras.iastate.edu

Kansas

Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center 

10561 Barkley Street, Ste 602, 

Overland Park, KS, 66212

Ph: (913) 649-4333

http://www.mamtc.com

Kentucky

Advantage Kentucky Alliance

2413 Nashville Road, B8, Ste 310, 

Bowling Green, KY, 42101

Ph: (270) 282-7103

http://www.advantageky.org

Louisiana

Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana

P.O. Box 44172, 

Lafayette, LA, 70504

Ph: (337) 482-6767

http://www.mepol.org

Maine

Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership

87 Winthrop Street, Augusta, ME, 04330

Ph: (207) 623-0680

http://www.mainemep.org/
31

Maryland

Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership

8894 Stanford Boulevard, Ste 304, 

Columbia, MD, 21045

Ph: (410) 505-8936

http://www.mdmep.org

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

100 Grove Street, Ste 108, 

Worcester, MA, 01605

Ph: (508) 831-7020

http://www.massmep.org/

Michigan

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

47911 Halyard Drive, 

Plymouth, MI, 48170

Ph: (888) 414-6682

http://www.mmtc.org/

Minnesota

Enterprise Minnesota

310 4th Avenue S, Ste 7050, 

Minneapolis, MN, 55415

Ph: (612) 373-2900

http://www.enterpriseminnesota.org

Mississippi

InnovateMEP Mississippi

134 Market Ridge Drive, 

Ridgeland, MS, 39157

Ph: (601) 960-3610

http://www.innovatemep.ms

Missouri

Missouri Enterprise

900 Innovation Drive, Ste 300, 

Rolla, MO, 65401

Ph: (800) 956-2682

http://www.missourienterprise.org

Montana

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center

2310 University Way Bldg 2, Ste 1, 

Bozeman, MT, 59717

Ph: (406) 994-3812

http://www.mtmanufacturingcenter.com

Nebraska

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

1400 R Street, 

Lincoln, NE 68588

Ph: (402) 472-9339

http://www.unl.edu/

Nevada

Nevada Industry Excellence 

UNR Mail Stop 406, Ste 212, 

Reno, NV, 89557

Ph: (775) 784-1935

http://www.nevadaie.com/nvie/

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership

172 Pembroke Road, 

Concord, NH, 03301

Ph: (603) 226-3200

http://www.nhmep.org/

Focused on transforming U.S. 

manufacturers to compete globally.
32

New Jersey 

New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program 

2 Ridgedale Avenue, Ste 305, 

Cedar Knolls, NJ, 07927

Ph: (973) 998-9801

http://www.njmep.org

New Mexico

New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership

4501 Indian School Road NE, Ste 202, 

Albuquerque, NM, 87110

Ph: (505) 262-0921

http://www.newmexicomep.org

New York

New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership

625 Broadway, 

Albany, NY, 12245

Ph: (518) 292-5729

http://www.esd.ny.gov/

North Carolina

North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership

909 Capability Drive, Research IV BLDG, Ste 1600, 

Raleigh, NC, 27695

Ph: (919) 515-2358

http://www.ies.ncsu.edu

North Dakota

North Dakota Manufacturing Extension Partnership

1929 North Washington Street, Ste M, 

Bismarck, ND, 58501

Ph: (701) 328-5476

http://www.dakotamep.com

Ohio

Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership

77 South High Street, 

Columbus, OH, 43215

Ph: (614) 466-2775

http://www.development.ohio.gov

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance

525 South Main Street, Ste 210, 

Tulsa, OK, 74103

Ph: (918) 592-0722

http://www.okalliance.com/

Oregon

Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership

12909 SW 68th Parkway, Ste 140, 

Portland, OR, 97223

Ph: (503) 406-3770

http://www.omep.org

Pennsylvania

Catalyst Connection

2000 Technology Drive, 

Pittsburgh, PA, 15219

Ph: (412) 918-4300

http://www.catalystconnection.org

Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center

2905 Southampton Road, 

Philadelphia, PA, 19154

Ph: (215) 464-8550

http://www.dvirc.org

MEP Centers offer products and services 

that address local needs of manufacturers
33

Pennsylvania continued

IMC-PA

One College Avenue, DIF 32, 

Williamsport, PA, 17701

Ph: (570) 329-3200

http://www.imcpa.com

MANTEC

600 North Hartley Street, Ste 100, 

York, PA, 17404

Ph: (717) 843-5054

http://www.mantec.org/

Manufacturers Resource Center

961 Marcon Boulevard, Ste 200, 

Allentown, PA, 18109

Ph: (610) 628-4640

http://www.mrcpa.org

Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center

75 Young Street, 

Hanover Township, PA, 18706

Ph: (570) 819-8966

http://www.nepirc.com

Northwestern Pennsylvania Industrial 

Resource Center

5340 Fryling Road, Ste 202, 

Erie, PA, 16510

Ph: (814) 898-6893

http://www.nwirc.org

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Manufacturing Extension Inc.

Ponce de Leon Avenue, Mercantil Plaza Building, Ste 

819, Hato Rey, PR, 00918

Ph: (787) 756-0505

http://www.primexpr.org

Rhode Island

Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership

315 Iron Horse Way

Providence, RI 02908

Ph: (401) 270-8896

http://www.polarismep.org

South Carolina

South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership

1301 Gervais Street, Ste 910, 

Columbia, SC, 29201

Ph: (803) 252-6976

http://www.scmep.org

South Dakota

South Dakota Manufacturing and Technology Solutions

2329 North Career Avenue, Ste 106, 

Sioux Falls, SD, 57107

Ph: (605) 367-5757

http://www.usd.edu/business/manufacturing-andtechnology-solutions/

Tennessee

Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

193 Polk Avenue, Ste C, 

Nashville, TN, 37210

Ph: (615) 532-8657

http://www.cis.tennessee.edu/

Texas

TMAC

9390 Research Boulevard, Ste II-300, 

Austin, TX, 78759

Ph: (800) 625-4876

http://www.tmac.org/

Utah

Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership

800 West University Parkway MS 212, 

Orem, UT, 84058

Ph: (801) 863-8637

http://www.mep.org/
The MEP network is build to provide support 

and resources to U.S. manufacturers

34

Vermont

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center

P.O. Box 12, 1 Main Street, 

Randolph Center, VT, 05061

Ph: (802) 728-1432

http://www.vmec.org/

Virginia

Genedge Alliance

32 Bridge Street, Ste 200, 

Martinsville, VA, 24112

Ph: (276) 666-8890

http://www.genedge.org/

Washington

Impact Washington

8227 44th Avenue West, Ste D, 

Mukilteo, WA, 98275

Ph: (425) 438-1146

http://www.impactwashington.org

West Virginia

West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership

319 Mineral Resources Building, P.O. Box 6070, 

Morgantown, WV, 26506

Ph: (304) 293-3800

http://www.wvmep.com

Wisconsin

UW Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center

278 Jarvis Hall, 410 10th Avenue East, 

Menomonie, WI, 54751

Ph: (866) 880-2262

http://www.uwstout.edu/moc

Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership

2601 Crossroads Drive, Ste 145, 

Madison, WI, 53718

Ph: (877) 800-2085

http://www.wmep.org

Wyoming

Manufacturing-Works

1000 East University Avenue, 

Laramie, WY, 82071

Ph: (800) 343-1423

http://www.manufacturing-works.com/
35

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Twitter @nist_mep

LinkedIn Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Blog nistmep.blogs.govdelivery.com

Web www.nist.gov/mep
100 Bureau Drive | Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Phone: 1-301-975-5020 | Fax:

mfg@nist.gov | www.nist.gov/mep

The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a nationwide 

system of resources, transforming manufacturers to compete 

globally, supporting greater supply chain integration, and 

providing access to technology for improved productivity. MEP is 

built around manufacturing extension centers locally positioned 

throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico addressing the critical and 

often unique needs of America’s manufacturers.

CONTACT US