MEP ADVISORY BOARD

2019 ANNUAL REPORT

2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 1

2019 MEP Advisory Board Report

In 2019 the MEP National NetworkTM made great strides toward functioning as a truly integrated National 

Network, with the capabilities of one Center available to and benefiting all Centers across the country and 

potentially helping every U.S. manufacturer. Additionally, we embarked on connecting the MEP Advisory 

Board with each of the 51 MEP Center Boards. These accomplishments came about through a great deal 

of hard work involving all the Network representatives including the MEP Advisory Board, NIST MEP staff, 

leadership from the Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence and of course, the MEP Centers and their 

boards in every state and Puerto Rico.

The MEP Advisory Board met in March, June and September 2019. The Board received updates and 

continued to advise NIST MEP leadership on progress toward the goals of the MEP National Network 

2017-2022 Strategic Plan. The September 2019 Board meeting included discussion of the Network’s 

progress on the first 18-month measures of success and presented baselines for a new set of 18-month 

measures that will continue focusing the Network on strategic plan goals throughout 2020.

At each Board meeting, reports from the Supply Chain Development Working Group and the Advisory 

Board Executive Committee Working Group focused discussion as these groups explore and develop 

recommendations on essential programmatic goals. In addition to the working group topics, workforce 

challenges were an area of attention for the Board in 2019.

A high point for 2019 was the MEP National Network Summit which took place immediately after the 

September Board meeting in Atlanta. The Summit was an incredible display of the Network’s expertise 

and passion for manufacturing as over 600 attendees shared challenges, ideas and resources. At the 

beginning of the Summit, the MEP Advisory Board was honored to host a manufacturing roundtable with 

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley and Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and 

Technology and NIST Director Dr. Walter Copan who demonstrated great interest and understanding of 

the manufacturing challenges that the Network is addressing.

The Board is fully engaged as the Network begins working on the new 18-month measures of success 

toward strategic plan goals. The Center Board Outreach Program will establish stronger collaborative 

relationships between MEP Advisory Board members and the Center boards. Efforts to further integrate 

the Network and get the word out about Network capabilities will continue in 2020 as the MEP National 

Network brand becomes more widely known by small and medium-sized manufacturers as the “Go-To 

Experts for Advancing U.S. Manufacturing.” It’s an exciting time to be at the forefront of moving the dial 

forward for U.S. manufacturing.

Bernadine Hawes, Chair

Senior Research Analyst

Community Marketing Concepts

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Matthew B. Newman, Vice Chair

Director, Sustainability Advocacy and Development

ONEOK, Inc.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
2 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

Mitch Magee 

Director, Global Advanced Manufacturing Team

PPG Aerospace

Sylmar, California

Jose Anaya

Dean, Community Advancement

El Camino Community College

Hawthorne, California

Mary Isbister

President

GenMet Corp

Mequon, Wisconsin

E. LaDon Byars

President & CEO

Colonial Diversified Polymer Products, LLC

Dyersburg, Tennessee

Joe Eddy

CEO

Enhanced Technologies LLC

Wheeling, West Virginia

Carolyn Cason

Professor Emerita, College of Nursing and Health Innovation

University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, Texas

Donald Bockoven

Chief Executive Officer

Fiber Industries LLC

Darlington, South Carolina

Kevin Heller

Chief Operations Officer/Chief Financial Officer

The Ziegenfelder Company

Wheeling, West Virginia
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 3

Patricia Moulton

President

Vermont Technical College

Randolph Center, Vermont

Kathay Rennels

Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Rural-Urban Initiatives

Colorado State University System

Fort Collins, Colorado

Chris Weiser

Owner and President

J.V. Manufacturing, Inc. 

Springdale, Arkansas

Jim Wright

Vice President of Operations

Proof Research

Columbia Falls, Montana

Jeffrey Wilcox

Vice President, Digital Transformation

Lockheed Martin

Bethesda, Maryland

George Spottswood

CEO

Quality Filters, Inc.

Robertsdale, Alabama

Leslie Taito

CEO

Hope Global

Cumberland, Rhode Island

Willie May, Ph.D.

Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Morgan State University

Laytonsville, Maryland 
Table of Contents

About the Manufacturing Extension Partnership ..............................................................5

About the MEP Advisory Board............................................................................................6

2019 Advisory Board Members ............................................................................................7

2019 Advisory Board Activities ......................................................................................... 16

Advisory Board Meetings.......................................................................................................................... 16

Working Group Updates............................................................................................................................ 18

 Supply Chain Development Working Group.............................................................................. 18

 Advisory Board Executive Committee Working Group........................................................... 19

MEP National Network Update.......................................................................................... 20

MEP National Network Brand Awareness Campaign...................................................................... 20

Increasing Key Services Across the Network...................................................................................... 21

Center Leadership Team ............................................................................................................................ 22

 2019 MEP National Network Center Leadership Team Committees.................................. 23

MEP National Network 2017-2022 Strategic Plan ........................................................... 24

Accomplishments and New Goals......................................................................................................... 27

NIST MEP Competitive Awards Program .......................................................................... 28

Memorandum of Understanding with FDA...................................................................... 29

Government Accountability Office Cost Share Report.................................................... 30

W.E. Upjohn Institute Report............................................................................................. 31

NIST MEP Budget................................................................................................................ 32

Mission and Vision.............................................................................................................. 33
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 5

About the Manufacturing Extension Partnership

The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 created the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (MEP) to improve the competitiveness of 

U.S.-based manufacturing by making manufacturing technologies, processes and services more accessible 

to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). For over thirty years, the MEP program has focused 

on bridging the manufacturing productivity gap, identifying opportunities for growth and encouraging 

technology deployment.

Growing from a pilot project of just three Centers to a system of organizations in every state and Puerto 

Rico, the 51 MEP Centers are now an integral part of the MEP National Network providing its manufacturing 

customers with a wide array of fundamental services in manufacturing, business and process improvements. 

Today, the 51 MEP Centers as part of the MEP National Network represented in every state and Puerto Rico 

have more than 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at approximately 375 MEP service locations. The MEP 

Centers and their partners, including state governments, universities, community colleges, nonprofit entities, 

associations and private consultants provide manufacturers with the services needed to reduce bottom-line 

expenses and grow top-line profits, both of which are necessary to thrive in the global marketplace.

According to a third-party survey, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the network of MEP Centers interacted with more 

than 28,200 manufacturers. MEP Center clients from across the country reported that the assistance they 

received helped to create or retain 114,650 manufacturing jobs in FY 2019. MEP Center clients had $15.7 

billion in new and retained sales in FY 2019 and realized $1.5 billion in cost savings. For every dollar of federal 

investment in FY 2019, the MEP Centers as part of the MEP National Network generated $33.80 in new sales 

growth and $32.20 in new client investment. This translates into $4.7 billion in new sales. During this same 

time, for every $1,221 of federal investment, the MEP Centers’ work with their clients created or retained one 

manufacturing job. Since 1988, MEP has worked with 111,343 manufacturers, leading to $132 billion in new 

sales and $22 billion in cost savings, and it has helped create and retain more than 1,221,996 jobs.
6 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

About the MEP Advisory Board

The statutory purpose of the Board is to provide advice and recommendations to the NIST Director on the 

following items:

z The activities, plans and policies of MEP. 

z The soundness of MEP’s plans and strategies.

z Current performance in relation to MEP Program plans.

The MEP Advisory Board consists of members broadly representing the interests and needs of the 

manufacturing sector appointed by the NIST Director. By statute, at least two members must be on an 

advisory board for an MEP Center and at least five other members must be from small U.S. businesses 

representing the manufacturing sector. The statute also requires that at least one Board member represent a 

community college. Board members are limited to two consecutive full three-year terms and Board members 

are ineligible for reappointment during the year following the expiration of the second term. In addition, the 

law requires the Board to meet at least twice per year. In FY 2019, the Board met three times to perform its 

chartered functions.

A number of changes were made to Board membership in 2019. Board chair Jeffrey Wilcox finished his second 

term in May 2019 and a new chair and vice chair were designated. Former vice chair Bernadine Hawes stepped 

into the role as chair and Matthew Newman accepted the nomination for vice chair. 

The three members leaving the Board in 2019, including immediate past chair Jeffrey Wilcox, Carolyn Cason 

and Joe Eddy, offered leadership and advice over their years of service and their time and commitment to the 

MEP Advisory Board is appreciated. Three new members joined the Board in 2019, including Don Bockoven, 

Kevin Heller and Dr. Willie E. May, bringing the roster to 15 members going into FY 2020.

The current Board members represent the diversity of the U.S. manufacturing industry, from CEOs and 

executives at various-sized manufacturing companies to academic leaders at both state and community 

college institutions of higher education. The important perspectives of these volunteers will positively impact 

the MEP Program into the future.

MEP Director Carroll Thomas and the MEP Advisory Board organized a manufacturing roundtable with Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley and 

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Dr. Walter Copan during the MEP National Network Summit in September 2019.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 7

2019 Advisory Board Members

BERNADINE HAWES, CHAIR

Second Term Expires: May 2020

Bernadine Hawes is an executive-level nonprofit professional and economic development specialist 

working in the areas of project management, strategy development, compliance and evaluation. Her most 

recent achievement has been the authorship of a best practices manual for small business and economic 

development, which was funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to 

American Cities Foundation. Ms. Hawes began her career at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia, 

starting as a senior-level project administrator and later becoming vice president. Currently, she is a senior 

research analyst for Community Marketing Concepts. Ms. Hawes is chairwoman of the Delaware Valley 

Industrial Resource Center, which is part of Pennsylvania MEP. She also serves on the board of the PEC 

Community Development Corporation, which focuses on community development initiatives in Philadelphia, 

is chair of the PEC Foundation and serves on the advisory board of the Philadelphia Urban League 

Entrepreneurship Center.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ms. Hawes has a Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. 

She is a summa cum laude graduate of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. She has been the national co-chair 

of Penn’s Black Alumni Society and is a former member of the University of Pennsylvania’s James Brister Society 

for Diversity Inclusion.

MATTHEW NEWMAN, VICE CHAIR 

First Term Expires: March 2020

Matthew Newman is the director of sustainability advocacy and development for ONEOK, Inc. He joined 

ONEOK in 2019 and has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry which includes sustainability 

initiatives, business development, asset optimization, logistics optimization, electricity generation, 

renewable energy, fossil fuels, government, media and community relations, financial derivatives and 

hedging. ONEOK, a Fortune 500 Company, is one of the nation’s largest midstream energy companies 

focused on gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids in the 

United States.
8 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

JOSE ANAYA 

Second Term Expires: July 2022

Jose Anaya oversees the El Camino Community College District’s Community Advancement Division and 

Business Training Center as the dean. Prior to joining the staff at El Camino College, he directed economic 

development programs at Cerritos College. Under Mr. Anaya’s guidance, Cerritos College received 

numerous honors and recognition related to workforce development. These included a best practices 

award for its partnership with Lockheed Martin and selection by the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce 

and its partners as one of five national exemplary models for expanding postsecondary education and 

training opportunities for Hispanic workers. Mr. Anaya’s earlier experiences include work in the private 

sector with corporations such as Honeywell, ITT Industries and DataCard. He has broad experience and 

expertise in the areas of product design, manufacturing and management, as well as economic and 

workforce development. Mr. Anaya has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from California 

State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in 

entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California.

DONALD BOCKOVEN

First Term Expires: October 2022

Donald Bockoven is the CEO for Fiber Industries LLC, a textile production operation based in Darlington, 

South Carolina. He has extensive experience over a nearly forty year career as a senior leader within both 

large and small companies across many industries. He specializes in transformational company growth 

through performance improvement. He has extensive knowledge in organizational redesign through 

Lean Six Sigma manufacturing practices, adaptive and advanced work systems and quality management. 

Mr. Bockoven has extensive board experience. He currently sits on the South Carolina Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership Board and recently left the South Carolina Manufacturers Association Board. At the 

national level, he was the vice chairman of the National Council of Textile Organization’s board until April 

2019 and in 2018 was appointed to the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations 

for a four-year term. He has also served on technical advisory boards at the community college level as 

well as startup companies.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 9

CAROLYN CASON

Second Term: Resigned from the Board, March 2019

Carolyn Cason, professor emerita at the University of Texas at Arlington, has had a distinguished career 

as a scientist, teacher, academic leader and innovator. She began her professional career as a critical care 

nurse and has held university teaching appointments for over 35 years. She joined the University of Texas 

at Arlington in 1997 as professor and associate dean for research in the College of Nursing and served 

as the university’s vice president for research from 2010-2015. She envisioned and built the nation’s first 

comprehensive healthcare simulation research and development center, the Smart Hospital, creating 

the prototype for the nation. She led the efforts that created Smart Care, a living laboratory dedicated to 

developing noninvasive, pervasive technology to monitor health changes and support independent living, 

and the Shimadzu Institute for Research Technologies, a $25 million core facility supporting chemistry, 

biology, nanotechnology and material science research. In 2014, she was named a charter fellow, National 

Academy of Inventors and in October 2015, she was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of 

Nursing. She serves on a number of boards, including the board of Tech Fort Worth, a seed incubator/

accelerator supporting entrepreneurs commercializing innovative technologies.

E. LADON BYARS 

First Term Expires: February 2020

LaDon Byars is the president and CEO of Colonial Diversified Polymer Products, LLC of Dyersburg, 

Tennessee. Colonial Diversified produces high-quality rubber products for a wide variety of industries 

including automotive, defense, commercial building, construction, farm equipment, aerospace, 

computers, medical, telecommunications, recreation, health, entertainment, plumbing, refrigeration and 

many more. She started out as a financial analyst and rose to become president of the company. Ms. Byars 

is very active in the manufacturing community, has received many awards and is on the advisory board of 

the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services which houses Tennessee MEP, the MEP Center in 

Tennessee.
10 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

JOE EDDY

First Term: Resigned from the Board, March 2019

Joe Eddy is executive vice president at Justrite Safety Group and president/CEO of Eagle Manufacturing. 

Both companies are leaders for over 100 years in the safe storage, transfer, use and disposal of flammable 

and hazardous liquids. As executive vice president of Justrite’s North American Chemical Safety business 

unit, Mr. Eddy is responsible for both Eagle and Justrite’s legacy operations groups. He is past chairman of 

the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA), president of the WVMA Educational Fund Board, vice 

president of the Foundation Board at West Virginia Northern Community College, on the advisory board 

at the McDonough Center for Leadership and Business at Marietta College, vice president of the Regional 

Economic Development Partnership Board, on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charleston Industry 

Roundtable, on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers, on the West Virginia Economic 

Development Authority Board and founded the Joseph and Debra Eddy Foundation, as well as the Joseph 

Eddy Technology Fund at West Virginia Northern Community College.

KEVIN HELLER

First Term Expires: October 2022

Kevin Heller is the chief operations officer/chief financial officer of Ziegenfelder Company, located in 

Wheeling, West Virginia. The Ziegenfelder Company is over one hundred years old and Mr. Heller joined 

the company in 2004. He is responsible for all accounting, finance, business and operating activities of 

the company and oversight of the business policies and practices. He has been integral in scaling and 

facilitating the business growth from $16 million to $75 million and has successfully managed more than 

$25 million in expansion projects over the past four years. Mr. Heller graduated from Bethany College and is 

a certified public accountant in Ohio and West Virginia.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 11

MARY ISBISTER

First Term Expires: March 2020

Mary Isbister is president of GenMet Corporation, a custom metal fabricating company located in Mequon, 

Wisconsin. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, she worked at Pfizer in Groton, 

Connecticut for 11 years. During her tenure at Pfizer she held positions in medicinal chemistry, clinical 

research and senior organizational development. In 1997, she moved to Wisconsin and founded Synergy 

Solutions, an organizational development and strategic planning consulting business, which she ran 

until 2001. In 1999 Ms. Isbister and her husband purchased GenMet Corporation, a custom manufacturer 

specializing in high value-added metal fabrications and enclosures. From 2010-2014 Ms. Isbister also 

served on the U.S. Manufacturing Council, reporting to the Secretary of Commerce.

MITCH MAGEE 

First Term Expires: March 2020

Mitch Magee is director of the Global Advanced Manufacturing Team for PPG’s aerospace business unit. He 

has over 30 years of manufacturing experience, having served in capacities from front-line plant operations 

to global quality and environment, health and safety roles in PPG’s automotive, industrial, and food and 

beverage package coatings business units. Mr. Magee is also actively engaged in workforce development 

as the past chair of the Delaware Manufacturing Association and led the development of Delaware’s first 

Pathways to Prosperity high school manufacturing technology program. This program was developed in 

conjunction with Governor Jack Markell’s administration, Delaware Technical and Community College and 

local high schools. Mr. Magee has also served on the Delaware Workforce Development Board, boards of 

Western Pennsylvania Air and Waste Management Association, Delaware Technical Community CollegeTerry Campus, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce and as a Pickaway County, Ohio trustee. He has a 

Bachelor of Science in liberal arts from Allegheny College, a Master of Science in chemical engineering from 

the University of Pittsburgh and is a licensed professional engineer.
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DR. WILLIE E. MAY 

First Term Expires: October 2022

Dr. Willie E. May is vice president for research and economic development at Morgan State University. He 

previously served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of NIST. 

As NIST Director, Dr. May provided high-level oversight and direction for NIST, the agency that promotes 

U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and 

technology. Dr. May began as a bench chemist and went on to work at every management level within the 

organization. In addition to the MEP Advisory Board, Dr. May serves on science and technology advisory 

boards for the United Kingdom’s National Physical Laboratory and China’s National Institute of Metrology 

and on the board of directors for Consumer Reports. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from 

Knoxville College and his doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park.

PATRICIA MOULTON 

First Term Expires: June 2021 

Patricia Moulton was appointed president of Vermont Technical College by the Vermont State Colleges 

Board of Trustees in March 2017. Pat served as interim president from September 2016-March 2017. 

Vermont Technical College is part of the Vermont State College System and the only technical college in the 

state. Prior to joining the college, Ms. Moulton served as secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and 

Community Development.

Ms. Moulton has served in a variety of appointed positions in Vermont state government, having been 

appointed by four different governors. She has served as commissioner of labor in addition to several 

economic development-related appointments. She has also served as appointed chair of an environmental 

regulatory board for the state of Vermont. Ms. Moulton spent 35 years in the practice of economic 

development on the local, regional and state levels. She has worked as executive director of four different 

regional economic development corporations in Vermont. She also ran her own economic development 

consulting company for several years. Ms. Moulton is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree 

in political science.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 13

KATHAY RENNELS 

Second Term Expires: March 2022

Kathay Rennels is the special advisor to the chancellor for rural-urban initiatives at Colorado State 

University (CSU) and works to advance collaborative networks across the state and create economic 

development opportunities. She has significant experience fostering public and private partnerships in 

regional and rural workforce development, with particular attention to Larimer and Weld Counties. Ms. 

Rennels previously served three terms as a Larimer County commissioner and is now leading the Food and 

Agriculture Key Industry Network for the state of Colorado. Ms. Rennels helped initiate the “Value Chain 

of Colorado Agriculture” study released in February 2013 and coauthored the November 2014 follow-up 

study, “The Emergence of an Innovation Cluster in the Agricultural Value Chain along Colorado’s Front 

Range.” She also initiated the Advancing the Agricultural Economy through Innovation summit, held at CSU 

in March 2015. Ms. Rennels was the president of Colorado Counties Inc. and named commissioner of the 

year. She currently serves on the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, El Pomar Foundation and 

Manufacturer’s Edge, the Colorado MEP Center, as a board member.

GEORGE SPOTTSWOOD

First Term Expires: May 2020

George Spottswood is owner and CEO of Quality Filters, Inc. (QFI) in Robertsdale, Alabama. QFI was 

incorporated in 1981 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Mr. Spottswood and his father, Horace Spottswood, 

purchased the business in 1983. At the time of purchase, QFI employed eight associates and operated out 

of a 10,000-square foot rented facility, manufacturing a single HVAC air filter product. Today, QFI employs 

150 associates and operates out of a 70,000-square foot corporate-owned facility. He has served two 

terms as associate council president of the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) as well as served on 

several NAFA committees in varying roles. Mr. Spottswood has been involved with the Alabama Technology 

Network (ATN, Alabama’s MEP Center) since 2005. He was named 2005 ATN Business Innovator of the Year 

for the state of Alabama. Other corporate awards include the 2011 Innovator of the Year Award for Alabama 

by the Southern Growth Policy Board.
14 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

LESLIE TAITO

First Term Expires: July 2020

Leslie Taito is currently the CEO for Hope Global, a manufacturer of products and engineering of textile 

solutions. Using her 27 years of management and manufacturing experience she is responsible for 

developing and leading the short and long-term growth strategy for the company and managing the 

overall global operations and resources.

Prior to her employment at Hope, Ms. Taito served as the director of regulatory reform for the Rhode Island 

Office of Management and Budget. She has also held leadership positions as the CEO for the Rhode Island 

Manufacturing Extension Services, Inc., executive director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association 

and acting executive director and chief operating officer of the Rhode Island Regional Employment and 

Training Board.

In addition to serving on the MEP Advisory Board, Ms. Taito is a member of the Polaris MEP Advisory Board. 

She also has served by appointment of the governor on the Rhode Island Manufacturing Advisory Council 

and the Lean Government Initiative. Actively involved in her community, Ms. Taito has served in executive 

board leadership positions and as chair of the Northern Rhode Island and North Kingstown Chambers of 

Commerce.

CHRIS WEISER 

First Term Expires: March 2020

Chris Weiser is the owner and President of J.V. Manufacturing, Inc. Since 1978, J.V. Manufacturing has 

provided the best equipment solutions for America’s waste and recycling needs. J.V. Manufacturing 

provides safe, quality products made in the USA. Known for their excellent customer service which has 

made Cram-A-Lot one of the most respected brands in the industry, J.V. Manufacturing has over 200 

employees, two manufacturing locations and three remote service locations. Upon graduating from the 

University of Arkansas, Mr. Weiser moved to Louisiana and worked for Freeport-McMoRan, a minerals and oil 

and gas producing company. In 1985, he moved back to Arkansas to help his family run J.V. Manufacturing. 

Since 1996, he has been president, CEO and owner of the company. Mr. Weiser is passionate about the 

waste and recycling industry and about service to his community.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 15

JIM WRIGHT 

First Term Expires: March 2020

Jim Wright is the vice president of operations for Proof Research, located in Columbia Falls, Montana. 

Proof Research is an industry leader that designs and manufactures state-of-the-art carbon fiber 

composite firearms for both military and commercial applications. Mr. Wright has over 25 years of 

experience in manufacturing engineering and production management across the aerospace, automotive, 

semiconductor and firearms industries. Through his professional career, he has spent a significant amount 

of time abroad working with European and Asian companies and brings a passion to apply best-in-class 

concepts and lean manufacturing principles to help improve manufacturing within the U.S. He holds a 

Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Southern Illinois University and was a 

member of the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center advisory board for six years, serving in both the 

vice president and president roles. He is active in the local community and serves on the board of directors 

for the Kalispell City Chamber of Commerce.

JEFFREY WILCOX, IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Second Term Expired: May 2019

Jeff Wilcox is vice president for digital transformation at Lockheed Martin. He oversees the Digital Transformation 

Office and is responsible for the design, development and implementation of Lockheed Martin’s operations 

strategy. This office is charged with leveraging emerging digital technologies to transform systems design, 

production and sustainment, as well as ensuring the workforce and systems are in place to enable successful 

transformation.

Previously, Mr. Wilcox served as vice president for engineering and program operations at Lockheed Martin. In 

this capacity, he was responsible for the effectiveness and efficiency of the engineering, program management, 

production operations and sustainment functions across the enterprise. Prior to that role, Mr. Wilcox served as 

vice president for corporate engineering where he was responsible for the engineering enterprise, ensuring that 

the right people, processes, tools and technologies were in place to successfully deliver innovative engineering 

solutions to customers’ most complex challenges. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Wilcox served for 17 years 

with Science Applications International Corporation.

Mr. Wilcox earned his Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University 

and his Master of Science in electrical engineering from Drexel University. He holds an honorary Doctor of 

Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and serves on the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing 

Institute Board as well as on multiple industry and university advisory boards. Mr. Wilcox is an adjunct professor 

at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 

and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
16 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

2019 Advisory Board Activities

Advisory Board Meetings

The MEP Advisory Board gathered for three face-to-face meetings in 2019. At each meeting, the Board 

received detailed updates from the MEP Director on the state of the MEP Program and progress made toward 

strategic plan goals. Each meeting also included high level discussions of various topics integral to the 

Program and report outs from the Board’s working groups. These meetings provided opportunities for Board 

members to expand their knowledge of manufacturing technologies through academic and industry plant 

visits, advise and support the MEP Program and actively engage with the MEP National Network. All MEP 

Advisory Board meeting minutes and presentations are available on the NIST MEP website. 

 March 29, 2019: Washington, D.C.

The first 2019 MEP Advisory Board meeting in March featured guest speaker Rob Gold from the Department 

of Defense (DoD) Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He addressed critical 

manufacturing supply chain needs for the defense industrial base and discussed an assessment of key areas 

of focus for building defense manufacturing supply chain resiliency that was conducted in response to 

the President’s Executive Order 13806 issued in July 2017. He also identified possible opportunities for the 

MEP Centers’ participation including helping move companies toward digital manufacturing, addressing 

workforce challenges and working with the space industrial community. 

 June 18, 2019: Torrance, California

Before the June meeting, members of the MEP Advisory Board toured Boeing Satellite Systems and El Camino 

College’s Center for Applied Technology. Workforce challenges and solutions were the key focus areas at the 

June meeting where NIST MEP’s Mary Ann Pacelli spoke about the importance of education and other efforts 
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 17

to develop the future manufacturing workforce. She presented ways MEP Centers can assist clients including 

layoff aversion, talent planning and training (i.e. “Smart Talent”) and helping companies figure out what they 

can do differently to recruit and retain their workforce.

 Sept. 15, 2019: Atlanta, Georgia

The MEP Advisory Board met for a third time just before the MEP National Network Summit in Atlanta. This 

meeting included concurrent roundtable discussions with MEP Advisory Board members as well as Center 

board leaders and NIST MEP Resource Managers. These discussions focused on three topics: brainstorming 

ways that Center boards can help MEP Centers meet strategic plan goals to increase reported projects and 

engage new clients, identifying each state’s biggest manufacturing challenges and the resources needed 

to deal with them, and discussing how to use the MEP National Network to full advantage for learning and 

sharing resources. 

After the Advisory Board meeting, the MEP Director and the MEP Advisory Board organized a dynamic 

manufacturing roundtable giving Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley and Under Secretary 

of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Dr. Walter Copan the opportunity to discuss 

directly with SMMs both the challenges they face and the potential opportunities available to them in 

advanced technology trends. Participating manufacturers in the roundtable included members of the MEP 

Advisory Board and MEP Center board chairs.

Many MEP Advisory Board members remained in Atlanta for the MEP National Network Summit, attending 

sessions and networking. The Summit brought together over 600 attendees from around the country to 

share knowledge to advance and integrate MEP National Network capabilities, strengthen the Network, 

improve the ways SMMs are served, and strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturers while advancing U.S. 

manufacturing as a whole. 
18 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

Working Group Updates

Supply Chain Development Working Group

Of particular interest since 2017 has been MEP National 

Network support of defense manufacturing supply 

chains relating to the DoD-sponsored Manufacturing 

USA Institutes, as well as cybersecurity for defense 

manufacturing. NIST MEP staff have worked with MEP 

Center staff embedded in Manufacturing USA Institutes 

since 2016 to help the MEP Centers engage SMMs in the 

technology focus areas and market opportunities of the 

Manufacturing USA Institutes. Programmatic results and 

learnings were documented in a March 2019 NIST MEP 

white paper. Highlights of findings include that SMMs 

tend to explore opportunities before making decisions 

to commit or implement and that they are interested in 

demonstration sites and interactive experiences that help 

them understand technologies. SMMs are also interested 

in state-of-the-art technologies that can be leveraged in 

the very near term and in local resources (within less than 

a two-hour drive) which are particularly helpful for engagement.

The MEP Advisory Board Supply Chain 

Development Working Group offers 

guidance and perspectives on MEP Program 

support and development of manufacturing 

supply chains with an emphasis on defense 

suppliers. The working group focuses 

attention on defense industrial base gaps 

and expertise on who should be brought 

into the discussion to provide insight on 

defense supplier gaps. The Supply Chain 

Development Working Group includes the 

following MEP Advisory Board members: 

Matt Newman, lead, LaDon Byars, Bernadine 

Hawes, Mary Isbister and Chris Weiser, as well 

as NIST MEP staff support.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 19

Development of MEP Center cybersecurity assistance capabilities is progressing and continues to be spurred 

by strong partnerships with DoD programs and mainly driven by the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 

Supplement (DFARS) requirements for defense contractors. Nondefense manufacturing sectors are not 

showing urgency to implement cybersecurity protections, although other supply chains such as those of the 

automotive and food industries are progressing and being closely monitored by the MEP National Network. 

The MEP Centers’ service to small companies includes awareness and training. As of the September 2019 

MEP Advisory Board meeting, 45 out of 51 MEP Centers offer a cybersecurity practice, more than 3,200 SMMs 

have been served and there have been over 496 cybersecurity projects conducted by the MEP Centers since 

2014. MEP Cyber-in-a-Box is available and provides MEP Centers with tools, guidance and other information 

needed to create a cybersecurity assistance practice. In addition, NIST Handbook 162 has been downloaded 

approximately 60,000 times since it was published in November 2017.

Advisory Board Executive Committee Working Group 

Throughout 2019 the group developed the new Center Board 

Outreach Program. The primary outcome of this effort will 

effectively connect all local MEP Center boards at the national 

level. The program enables MEP Advisory Board members 

to help Center boards better understand and engage with 

the MEP Centers. Current national Board members will be 

assigned to connect directly with individual Center board 

chairs to provide updates on Board activities, engage in 

strategic discussions that impact the MEP Program at the 

local and national level and gather feedback to better inform 

the Board about Center advocacy needs. This will be a more 

direct connection to the MEP Centers – providing a reciprocal 

relationship that gives Center boards direct access to the 

conversations at the national level while giving the MEP 

Advisory Board a way to better understand MEP Center needs 

and achieve its statute requirements to advise on the MEP 

Program as a whole. 

The Advisory Board Executive Committee 

Working Group offers guidance on future 

MEP Advisory Board leadership and 

membership recruitment, provides insights 

into cultivating strong Board governance 

as well as explores ways to expand the MEP 

Advisory Board’s role regarding the local MEP 

Center boards. The Executive Committee 

Working Group includes the following MEP 

Advisory Board members: Bernadine Hawes 

and Matt Newman, co-leads, Mitch Magee, 

Patricia Moulton and George Spottswood, as 

well as NIST MEP staff support.
20 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

MEP National Network Update

The MEP Program continued to make great strides in moving from 

the former model of a loose federation of independent Centers to 

a formalized integrated organization known as the MEP National 

Network, a common entity comprised of 51 MEP Centers in all 50 

states and Puerto Rico, the MEP Advisory Board, the 51 Center boards 

and the Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence working side by side 

with NIST MEP. 

MEP National Network Brand Awareness Campaign 

Increased recognition of the existence and value of the integrated MEP 

National Network was a milestone in 2019. This year the MEP National 

Network Brand Awareness campaign made important strides in reaching 

a greater number of SMMs with messaging in trade media including 

IndustryWeek, Industry Today and Quality Digest with articles, blog 

posts, white papers and webinars to increase awareness of MEP Center 

activities. This effort will continue through sharing educational and 

informational content created by the MEP National Network to increase Network awareness, establish 

our Centers as thought leaders and help further the Network’s mission to strengthen and empower 

U.S. manufacturers.

In 2019, the new Alaska MEP 

Center at the University of Alaska 

Anchorage joined the Network 

and is already doing important 

work to support the 550 

manufacturers in Alaska that are 

vital to the local economy. 
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 21

Increasing Key Services Across the Network

2019 saw a great deal of progress in increasing services in key 

areas across the Network. One very vital area is development of 

MEP National Network cybersecurity assistance capabilities which 

continue to be spurred by strong partnerships with DoD programs 

and mainly driven by the DFARS requirements for defense 

contractors. As of the September 2019 MEP Advisory Board 

meeting, 45 out of 51 MEP Centers offer a cybersecurity practice 

and more than 3,200 SMMs have been served. These efforts are 

having impact, yet a great deal of work remains and NIST MEP is 

developing a Notice of Funding Opportunity for MEP Centers for 

release in FY 2020 which will focus on the broad area of Industry 

4.0/Advanced Manufacturing and emphasize connectivity of 

physical and cyber systems in manufacturing factories and supply chains. 

MEP Director Carroll Thomas made site visits 

to all but two of the the MEP Advisory Board 

members in 2019 that she had not previously 

visited, touring their operations and 

meeting with clients. This learning/listening 

tour strengthened bonds and provided 

firsthand understanding of the expertise, 

strengths, skills, challenges and passion for 

manufacturing that each individual brings to 

the Board and to the MEP National Network.

Vision of the MEP National Network

We are the go-to resource for America’s manufacturers, ensuring U.S. 

manufacturing is resilient and leads the world in manufacturing innovation.

On a learning/listening tour, MEP Director Carroll Thomas visited MEP Advisory Board members including Jim Wright at Proof Research and 

Chris Weiser at J.V. Manufacturing, Inc. (pictured at far right).
22 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

Center Leadership Team

Established in 2017, the MEP National Network Center Leadership Team (CLT) has gained momentum and is 

having a wide impact across the MEP Centers and the rest of the Network. The CLT includes leaders from MEP 

Centers who interact with the NIST MEP leadership team to provide MEP Center strategies, identify funding 

opportunities, support the MEP National Network brand, validate multistate project processes, provide 

Center guidance and promote efforts for the Network to successfully serve more manufacturers. 

2019 MEP National Network Center Leadership Team Committees

The CLT provides input for initiatives that enhance MEP Center performance and also lays a foundation for 

the Network to address the current and future needs of SMMs by leading CLT Committees in key areas. The 

CLT itself is a diverse team representing large and small Centers and various types of host institutions. This 

diversity is enhanced by the inclusion of additional MEP Center directors from across the country on CLT 

Committees. 

Each CLT Committee is led by a member of the CLT who serves as the Committee champion. Committee 

members include volunteers from MEP Center leadership and additional key stakeholders that add value to 

the Committee. CLT Committees met regularly throughout 2019 to plan and implement their work and these 

activities are a key part of CLT efforts.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 23

2019 MEP National Network CLT Committees

Communications Committee – This Committee communicates clearly to all stakeholders the 

brand and important Network information including Center impacts. Using digital tools to expand 

the capability for the Network to communicate efficiently and effectively with partners, industry 

and stakeholders, this Committee coordinates with NIST MEP and the American Small Manufacturers Coalition to deliver Network performance to stakeholders.

Learning Committee – The Learning Committee evaluates the learning needs of the MEP Centers, 

identifies and improves current learning mechanisms and creates new mechanisms for Center 

learning as part of the Network. This Committee engages Center staff at all levels through learning 

organizations, summits, meetings and communities of interest.

Manufacturing and Technology Committee – This Committee coordinates the generation of new 

services and technologies for dissemination to Centers throughout the U.S. These customer-driven 

solutions will increase Center capabilities and allow them to think more broadly about their ability to serve their manufacturing community. This Committee also builds Center teams focused on 

securing NIST MEP supplemental funding that enables development of improved capabilities and 

approaches to solving SMM technology challenges.

Multistate Engagement Committee – An important strength of the Network is that multiple 

Centers can work collaboratively to serve manufacturers across the nation. To take fuller advantage 

of this capability, in 2019 the Multistate Engagement Committee developed a Multistate 

Engagement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes protocols and guidelines 

for MEP Centers to work together on multistate client projects that will reduce the business 

friction of multiple Centers working together and increase the velocity and frequency of 

collaborative projects across multiple Centers.

Network Evolution Committee – The Network Evolution Committee focuses on the adoption 

of principles and behaviors that create a functioning operational network of MEP Centers. 

The Committee fosters coordination and feedback mechanisms that result in new ways to 

improve the network of Centers as clients’ needs change. 

Outreach Committee – To succeed, the MEP National Network needs all Centers involved and 

committed to the National Network model. In the short term, the Outreach Committee is charged 

with helping build the National Network by communicating the philosophy, ethos and behaviors 

that have been defined and also making stakeholders aware of the value and requirements of 

being part of the National Network. Outreach involves direct and individual communication with 

Centers and stakeholders with clear messages about the purpose and value of the MEP 

National Network.
24 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

MEP NATIONAL NETWORK 2017-2022 

STRATEGIC PLAN

The Advisory Board continued to review and discuss the progress made on the MEP National Strategic 

Plan as it guides the Network forward from 2017-2022. Developed in conjunction with the Board, Center 

representatives, and NIST MEP staff, the plan creates a sharp focus for the Network with four expansive goals 

supporting the important mission and vision of the Program. The full plan can be downloaded from the NIST 

MEP website. At each meeting, the Board was provided with updates, including detailed Network priorities 

along with measurable results outlining continuing progress. This information is available in the Board 

meeting minutes posted on the NIST MEP website. 
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 25

The strategic plan’s four principal goals include:
MEP NATIONAL NETWORK MEASURES OF SUCCESS

18-MONTH MEASURES OF SUCCESS (THROUGH FY 2019):

• Piloted integrated MEP National Network approach to delivery system engaging 50% of Centers in 

multi-Center delivery projects.

• Increased small/rural engagements through third party partnerships by 10% and increased longer-term 

impactful projects with these smaller firms by 5%.

• Attained Operational Excellence in 25% of Centers’ operations and in 50% of NIST MEP administrative 

support.

• Increased awareness of the MEP National Network brand by 10% over base brand recognition 

measurement a year after the Network launched the brand.

FIVE-YEAR VIVID DESCRIPTION:

As the go-to resource for U.S. manufacturers... 

• Recognized by SMMs as a valuable and essential resource for delivering advanced technology 

solutions and cited by key manufacturing stakeholders (local, state, federal) as integral to growing U.S. 

manufacturing ecosystems.

• Increased our market penetration as an integrated National Network by 20%.

• Delivered integrated digitalization and cybersecurity assistance to dispersed supply chains and 

embraced Industry 4.0 in our own operational excellence.

The MEP National Network is known and recognized by U.S. manufacturers and stakeholders as an 

indispensable resource whose trusted experts help them grow and embrace manufacturing technology 

advances. A doubling of federal and state funding in the Network along with a strategic expansion of the 

current members of the MEP National Network:

• Known and recognized by U.S. manufacturers as the go-to resource for manufacturing.

• Tripled the number of manufacturers served annually.

• Increased the MEP National Network impact numbers four-fold.

SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM GOAL:
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 27

Accomplishments and New Goals

At each meeting, the Board received detailed updates from the MEP Director on progress toward goals for 

the MEP National Network 2017-2022 Strategic Plan’s first 18-month period. Steady progress toward these 

18-month goals was seen across the Network and the September 2019 meeting featured reports of this 

progress on key measures of success in terms of an integrated National Network, efficiency in small/rural 

engagements, Center and Program Office operational excellence and increased visibility of MEP National 

Network brand awareness.

The September 2019 Board meeting also included a discussion of new goals and baselines for each of these 

new measures moving forward. The new 18-month goals are:

z Reaching consensus across the MEP National Network on the definition of project and client 

manufacturing establishment interaction to ensure accurate and consistent measurement.

z Operationally improving reporting via measurement of on-time and accurate reporting.

z Increasing reported projects by 10% and reported new clients by 5%.

z Amplifying and measuring MEP National Network brand awareness by at least 10%.

Credit : Eliud Echevarria / FEMA
28 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

NIST MEP Competitive Awards Program

As part of NIST MEP’s ongoing efforts to build the MEP National Network and to make the Program more 

effective and efficient, in 2017 NIST MEP launched the performance-based Competitive Awards Program 

(CAP). The format of using an open solicitation award throughout the fiscal year is based on an existing NIST 

Measurement Science and Engineering solicitation used by the Laboratory Organizational Units in their grants 

programs. The MEP CAP awards are performance-based and open to MEP Centers that meet an acceptable 

level in seven out of ten Improving Manufacturing Productivity and Competitiveness Tracker (IMPACT) metrics.

In 2019, eight additional awards were made totaling over $7 million and issued to MEP Centers in Florida, 

Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island (see below). These 

awards will add capabilities to the MEP National Network in diverse areas from cybersecurity, workforce 

development and Kata to food manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Each of these awards will increase the ability to 

effectively serve MEP clients across the whole Network. 

z FloridaMakes, Orlando, Florida

z Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Augusta, Maine

z Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Worcester, Massachusetts

z Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Plymouth, Michigan

z New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey

z Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Portland, Oregon

z Pennsylvania Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Williamsport, Pennsylvania

z Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Kingston, Rhode Island
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 29

Memorandum of Understanding with FDA

In 2019, an MOU was executed between NIST MEP and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of 

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Partnerships to establish collaborative efforts between NIST MEP and the FDA to 

support the U.S. food manufacturing sector and advance and improve safe food manufacturing practices in 

the U.S.

The sharing of food safety manufacturing practices is critical to advance safe food manufacturing practices in 

the U.S. The FDA, together with U.S. Department of Agriculture, has funded a network of public and private 

partners in state, federal, tribal and international governments, industry and academia for the development 

and delivery of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) training. Via this MOU, the MEP National Network 

is recognized by the FDA as an additional, value-adding resource to extend assistance to small U.S. food 

processors relating to food safety best practices and how to implement FSMA and food safety requirements 

and standards.

The MEP National Network is developing capabilities and capacities across the nation in which local MEP 

Centers are striving to be go-to sources of expertise for small U.S. food processing companies in all areas 

of good manufacturing practices – highlighting food safety and awareness and implementation of FSMA 

requirements. Through this MOU, the FDA will serve as a partner resource to NIST MEP to assist with providing 

food safety training and awareness to small U.S. food processors across the nation that otherwise are 

challenged to receive information on food safety requirements and FDA guidance via existing FDA networks 

and alliances.
30 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

Government Accountability Office 

Cost Share Report

The NIST MEP Program worked to change the nonfederal to federal cost share ratio from 2:1 to 1:1 for MEP 

Centers for over a decade to enable the Centers to work with a more diverse group of companies and offer a 

broader array of programs. A change in cost share finally came in early 2017 with the signing of P.L. 114-329, 

the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), a major change in the authorizing legislation of the 

Program.

The AICA required a report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) to Congress within two years of 

enactment on the impacts of the change in cost share. Based in part on input from the MEP Advisory Board, 

the GAO’s report was published in March 2019 and is available online. The GAO reported that most Centers 

told them this change improved their financial stability, allowing them to better serve very small and rural 

companies, however the impacts of the change in the cost share were hard to distinguish from other factors. 

Subsequently, NIST Director Dr. Walter Copan completed and submitted a report to Congress on the first and 

second years of operation for Centers from the recompetition. This report, also required by the AICA, provided 

details on the engagement in services provided by Centers, the characteristics of services provided, and the 

volume and type of services.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 31

W.E. Upjohn Institute Report

In May 2019 the W.E. Upjohn Institute released an updated study which found the MEP Program generated a 

substantial economic and financial return of nearly 14.4:1 for the $140 million invested in the program in 

FY 2018 by the federal government.

The study also found that total employment in the U.S. was over 238,000 higher because of MEP Center 

projects than without the program. The Upjohn study also examined additional areas of economic impact not 

previously reported by the MEP Program:

z Personal income is $15 billion higher.

z GDP is $24.9 billion larger, translating into an increase of $2.02 billion in personal income tax revenue to 

the federal government than without the MEP program.

The W.E. Upjohn Institute report is available online. 

JOBS

238,000

GDP

$24.9

BILLION

RETURN ON 

INVESTMENT

14.4:1
32 | 2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report

NIST MEP Budget

The FY 2019 appropriation for the MEP program was $140 million, which was the same as MEP’s FY 2018 

funding amount. The President’s FY 2020 budget request for MEP which was released on March 11, 2019 

eliminated federal funding for the Program and provided no funding to wind down operations. However, 

Congress jointly approved an FY 2020 appropriation of $146 million for MEP, which the President signed on 

Dec. 20, 2019. Of this, $126.7 million will go directly to MEP Centers in FY 2020.

Approximately $121 million of MEP’s funding went directly to the MEP Centers in FY 2019. Additional funds 

were provided in direct support of the MEP National Network’s work with manufacturing firms, such as federal 

funding opportunities for Centers or contracts to train MEP Center staff.
2019 MEP Advisory Board Annual Report | 33

Mission and Vision

The MEP Advisory Board is confident the changes continuing to be implemented through the MEP National 

Network will result in increased effectiveness of the MEP Program and bring even more impact to the 

Network’s mission and future vision, as stated in the MEP National Network Strategic Plan.

ROLE:

DRIVING FORCE: 

VISION:

MISSION: 

The MEP National Network focuses its expertise and knowledge as well as that of its 

partners (industry, educational institutions, state governments, NIST and other federal 

research laboratories and agencies) on providing U.S. manufacturers with information 

and tools they need to improve productivity, assure consistent quality, accelerate the 

transfer of manufacturing technology and infuse innovation into production processes 

and new products.

We are driven to attain and uphold U.S. manufacturing preeminence which is essential to 

our nation’s long-term economic strength and to protect our national security interests.

We are the go-to resource for America’s manufacturers ensuring U.S. manufacturing is 

resilient and leads the world in manufacturing innovation.

Strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturers.
100 BUREAU DRIVE M/S 4800

GAITHERSBURG, MD 20899

PHONE: (301) 975-5020

EMAIL: MFG@NIST.GOV

WEB: WWW.NIST.GOV/MEP

The Go-To Experts for 

Advancing U.S. Manufacturing.