The Challenge

A robust manufacturing industry contributes to a reduced trade 

deficit, a flourishing economy, and a strong national defense. 

While manufacturing has the largest economic impact of any 

major sector, employing 12 million workers and accounting for 

two-thirds of private-sector research and development, manufacturers face many challenges, from increasing global competition to the ever-changing nature of innovation. Manufacturers 

require access to resources that help them identify growth 

opportunities and tools and services to improve their processes 

and create new products.

What MEP Does

• Creates opportunities for growth by providing manufacturers 

with the tools and services they need to respond to rapidly 

changing technology and business needs.

• Addresses manufacturers’ workforce challenges through 

training and collaboration.

• Accelerates the adoption of new technologies into commercial 

products and business practices.

• Improves manufacturers’ competitive advantage through 

reduced environmental costs and impact.

• Helps manufacturers build strong, stable businesses that 

provide good, middle-class jobs.

• Fosters innovative partnerships with industry; academia; and 

local, state, and federal government agencies.

BY THE 

NUMBERS

12 million

Americans work 

in manufacturing 

(Bureau of Labor 

Statistics)

12.5%

of the U.S.gross 

domestic product 

comes from manufacturing

 60 

MEP centers 

nationwide 

serve small 

and mid-size manufacturers

30,056 

manufacturers were helped by

MEP centers in FY 2014 

1,200 

local MEP technical 

experts help solve 

manufacturers’ 

challenges

www.nist.gov

MEP PROGRAM AND NIST

GDP
Recent Program Highlights

• As a result of MEP services, manufacturers reported $6.7 billion in new and retained sales, $2.7 billion in 

new investments, $1.1 billion in cost savings, and nearly 64,000 jobs created or retained in fiscal year 2014.

• Worked with more than 580 companies on export assistance programs, resulting in average sales from 

export opportunities of $770,000 and average cost and investment savings of $50,000.

• Facilitated more than 100 connections between original equipment manufacturers and government 

agencies in need of domestic suppliers within a diverse set of supply chains, including transportation, 

energy, defense, and consumer products.

Program Goals

• Enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.

• Foster partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels to leverage resources and opportunities for 

manufacturers.

• Serve as a voice to, and a voice for, manufacturers.

New for 2016

The request includes a total increase of $11M for MEP, of which $1.3M is to fund inflation-related 

requirements to maintain current services and $9.7M to focus on:

• Providing additional manufacturers with the tools and services needed to respond to rapid global 

changes that create opportunities for growth.

• Transferring results of the R&D activities at the Institutes for Manufacturing Innovation to 

smaller manufacturers.

• Developing increased capabilities to assist all growth–oriented small manufacturers to respond to critical 

national needs and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

0

40

80

120

160

Dollars, in millions

Budget

123

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

128 130

141