MEP NATIONAL NETWORK 

STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2022
2

MEP NATIONAL NETWORK STRATEGIC PLAN

MISSION: 

Strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturers.

VISION: 

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

and leads the world in manufacturing innovation.

DRIVING FORCE: 

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.

ROLE:

The MEP National NetworkTM 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.

PROGRAMMATIC STRENGTHS

Knowledgeable and experienced 

trusted technical experts in 

manufacturing and business.

Federal investment that requires 

cost share match to ensure 

motivated partnerships.

Nationwide coverage with 

locations within 2-3 hours of every 

manufacturer in America.

Evidence-based success in helping 

manufacturers cut costs, increase 

sales and create and retain jobs.

Proven high customer satisfaction 

well above industry benchmark - 79.8 

Net Promoter Score in FY16.

Mission-driven public/private 

partnership model that includes 

Federal/State collaboration.

Market savvy experts who respond 

to local needs and who are uniquely 

connected to national expertise and 

resources.
3

STRATEGIC GOALS

REPRESENTS WHAT WE MUST ACHIEVE TO STRENGTHEN AND 

EMPOWER U.S. MANUFACTURERS.

EMPOWER MANUFACTURERS

Assist U.S. manufacturers in embracing 

productivity-enhancing innovative 

manufacturing technologies, navigate 

advanced technology solutions and recruit 

and retain a skilled and diverse workforce. 

CHAMPION MANUFACTURING

Actively promote the importance of a 

strong manufacturing base as key to a 

robust U.S. economy and protection of 

our national security interests; create 

awareness of innovations in manufacturing; 

create enabling workforce development 

partnerships to build a stronger and diverse 

workforce pipeline; and maximize market 

awareness of the MEP National Network.

LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS

Leverage national, regional, state and 

local partnerships to gain substantial 

increase in market penetration; identify 

mission-complementary advocates to 

help the MEP National Network become a 

recognized manufacturing resource brand; 

build an expanded service delivery model 

to support manufacturing technology 

advances.

TRANSFORM THE NETWORK

Maximize MEP National Network 

knowledge and experience by operating 

as an integrated National Network; increase 

efficiency and effectiveness by employing 

a Learning Organization platform; and 

create a resilient and adaptive MEP 

National Network to support a resilient and 

adaptive U.S. manufacturing base.
4

EMPOWER MANUFACTURERS

Assist U.S. manufacturers in embracing productivity-enhancing innovative 

manufacturing technologies, navigate advanced technology solutions and 

recruit and retain a skilled and diverse workforce. 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

• Identify, inform and deploy services relating to current and emerging manufacturing 

technologies relative to productivity growth.

• Act as a trusted advisor to small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them 

navigate emerging, and be aware of, future technology trends.

• Introduce and connect small and medium-sized manufacturers to successful 

strategies that helps attract and retain skilled employees, and creates an inclusive 

pipeline of future employees. 
5

CHAMPION MANUFACTURING

Actively promote the importance of a strong manufacturing base as key to 

a robust U.S. economy and protection of national security interests; create 

awareness of innovations in manufacturing; create enabling workforce 

development partnerships to build a stronger and diverse workforce 

pipeline; and maximize market awareness of the MEP National Network.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

• Provide insight, at the local and national level, on the current “State of Manufacturing” 

by telling the stories about the people, companies and products made in the U.S. 

that support the economy and help protect our national security interests.

• Advance the MEP National Network as experts in manufacturing technology by 

utilizing key communication outlets to translate ground-breaking innovations in 

manufacturing. 

• Enable state and regional workforce partnerships to connect, communicate and 

coordinate across local workforce development systems.

• Deploy the MEP National Network Brand and tie it to specific measures of success.
6

LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS 

Leverage national, regional, state and local partnerships to gain substantial 

increase in market penetration; identify mission-complementary advocates to 

help the MEP National Network become a recognized manufacturing resource 

brand; build an expanded service delivery model to support manufacturing 

technology advances.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

• Leverage the major partnership with the Defense Department to attract other public (federal agencies) partnerships that bring vertical program synergies to increase market penetration, build on MEP National Network supply chain projects and entice state and other 

partner program investment funding.

• Create and provide on an annual basis, a value-added, state-by-state MEP National Network metric package on economic impacts, demographics served and “Public-Good” 

gained to encourage in-state advocacy of the MEP Center.

• Build on key technology and growth partnerships with the Manufacturing USA Institutes, 

NIST, other Federal Laboratories and Universities to develop a unique collaborative technology information transfer and service delivery model; grow relationships with state and 

city economic development principals, local Chambers, Tech Shops, Incubators, Export 

Assistance Centers.
7

TRANSFORM THE NETWORK 

Maximize MEP National Network knowledge and experience to operate 

as an integrated National Network; increase efficiency and effectiveness 

by employing a Learning Organization platform; and create a resilient and 

adaptive MEP National Network to support a resilient and adaptive U.S. 

manufacturing base.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

• Deploy the Future is Now Framework, adopting the guiding principles into the MEP 

National Network which will help to migrate the MEP Program from a Program Office 

and System of Centers to a National Network with value-added Program Office 

support, allowing a broader range of complementary services and information 

tailored to evolving manufacturing business owners needs.

• Create and empower a Learning Organization function that will support increased 

NIST MEP and Center efficiency and effectiveness and help refine Center 

performance metrics based on information to inform performance-based diagnosis 

and feedback to Centers, enabling applications to Center self-assessment and Centerto-Center sharing.

• Strive for Center and NIST MEP Program Office operational excellence by establishing 

risk management protocols that put in place mitigating strategies for internal and 

external threats. 
8

MEP NATIONAL NETWORK MEASURES OF SUCCESS

18-MONTH MEASURES OF SUCCESS:

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

Centers in multi-center delivery projects. 

• Increased small/rural engagements through 3rd 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 launches the brand. 

FIVE-YEAR VIVID DESCRIPTION:

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

• Recognized by small and medium-sized manufacturers 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.

• We have increased our market penetration as an integrated national network by 20%.

• We deliver integrated digitalization and cybersecurity assistance to dispersed supply chains 

and we have embraced Industry 4.0 in our own operational excellence.

SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM GOAL:

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. 

• We’ve tripled the number of manufacturers served annually. 

• We’ve increased the MEP National Network impact numbers four-fold.
9

MEP NATIONAL NETWORK SHORT/MID-TERM PRIORITIES

CREATION OF INTEGRATED NATIONAL NETWORK SERVICE 

DELIVERY SYSTEM

• Future is Now - communicate pilot to National Network/implement/assess/refine 

• Delivery system infrastructure - develop SOP/training/metrics

• National Network coordination and communication plan - assess status within 

National Network/refine/update 

1.

2. UPDATE OF NATIONAL-LEVEL PARTNERSHIPS AND 

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SUPPORT SERVICES 

• State relations program development - assess current state relations strategies/

research other strategies/create new plan/pilot

• Program evaluation and performance - develop and implement pilot analyze/assess/

refine/engage learning organization system

• Center financial risk management development - complete pilot/assess/refine

• MEP National Network brand and trademark - implement launch/assess/refine

• MFG Day - review strategic engagements/expand leverage of partnerships

• MEP National Network learning organization - assess National Network/industry 

needs
10

MEP NATIONAL NETWORK SHORT/MID-TERM PRIORITIES

3. DEFINED AREAS OF FOCUS FOR MANUFACTURING 

INNOVATION 

• Cybersecurity - National Network implementation and current assessment/future 

trends

• Digital manufacturing - National Network implementation and current 

assessment in industry and National Network/future trends

• Additive manufacturing - current assessment in industry and National Network/

future trends

• Automation and robotics - current assessment in industry and National 

Network/future trends

• IoT - future trends for small and medium-sized manufacturers in advanced 

manufacturing

• National and regional service portfolio coordination

• National Network workforce development plan
11

MEP NATIONAL NETWORK SHORT/MID-TERM PRIORITIES

4. CREATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NATIONAL NETWORK 

LEARNING ORGANIZATION

• FORME system learning services and Best Practice Conference - plan and 

implementation

• Establish Learning Organization infrastructure - assessment of future needs/

develop National Network plan

• 2nd biennial summit - roll out of new services and systems

5. INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPLY CHAIN, TECHNOLOGY 

ASSESSMENT AND INFORMATION AS A SERVICE 

• Partnership support of Defense Industrial Base assessment and supply chain 

development- assessment/create plan/implement services/consideration of future 

trends

• OEM/SMM engagement in industry 4.0 supplier development- status assessment 

of the National Network/consideration of future needs

• FSMA - assessment of industry and National Network needs and current resources/

consideration of future trends 

• Informational and performance support research services

• Manufacturing research to practice services
mfg@nist.gov

www.nist.gov/mep

100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

1-800-MEP-4MFG

CONTACT US

The MEP National NetworkTM is a unique public-private partnership that delivers 

comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and 

advancing U.S. manufacturing. Focused on helping small and medium-sized 

manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven 

economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), 51 MEP Centers 

located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and its 1,300 trusted advisors and experts 

at over 400 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to 

resources they need to succeed. In 2017, the MEP National Network connected with 

26,313 manufacturers, leading to $12.6 billion in sales, $1.7 billion in cost savings, 

$3.5 billion in new client investments, and helping to create and retain more than 

100,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs.