Serving U.S. Manufacturers Throughout the Full Product Life Cycle

TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT

TECHNOLOGY

TRANSFER

PRODUCTION

MEP is a public-private partnership with Centers 

in all 50 states and Puerto Rico – with over 

1,400 trusted advisors and experts at more 

than 385 MEP service locations working sideby-side with manufacturers to reduce costs, 

improve efficiencies, develop the next generation 

workforce, create new products, find new markets 

and more. 

ManufacturingUSA.com

Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing: 

Manufacturing USA® and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Manufacturing USA and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) coordinate complementary 

public-private partnerships to assist U.S. manufacturers. Both are headquartered at the National Institute 

of Standards and Technology (NIST), and support U.S. industry to manufacture high-quality American 

made products that compete in the global marketplace.

Manufacturing USA is a national network of 16 

manufacturing innovation institutes created 

to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced 

manufacturing through large-scale public-private 

collaboration on technology, supply chain, and 

education and workforce development. The 

institutes, sponsored by the U.S. Departments of 

Defense, Energy and Commerce, partner with six 

additional federal agencies.

Distinct Approaches, One Outcome: Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing

70,000 

WORKERS

TRAINED

105,700+

JOBS

CREATED

OR

RETAINED

2020 Manufacturing USA data.

500+

MAJOR

R&D

PROJECTS

$425 

MILLION

STATE,

FEDERAL,

 & PRIVATE 

SUPPORT

2,000+

PROJECT

PARTNERS

2020 MEP data.

$13

BILLION IN

SALES

$2.7 

BILLION IN

SAVINGS

27,500+

CONNECTIONS

WITH

SMMs

$4.9 

BILLION

NEW

CLIENT

INVESTMENTS

nist.gov/mep

Manufacturing USA:

Builds future manufacturing 

capabilities through applied 

research for technology 

development, along with the 

requisite workforce skills.

MEP: Focuses on deployment 

of available technology and 

business practices primarily 

to small and medium-sized 

manufacturers (SMMs).
• Strengthen workforce pipeline in 

specific technologies

• Develop specific new and 

innovative manufacturing 

technologies

• Scale-up new manufacturing 

technologies to produce new 

products and processes across 

entire industry sectors

FOCUS ON

Large-scale collaboration with multiple organizations 

working together on R&D innovation projects

16 national institutes, each with a particular 

technology focus. Members include companies 

and universities from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Members join institutes and gain access to 

each other, shared facilities, technology, 

equipment, intellectual property, and 

training and development opportunities.

Cybersecurity for 

manufacturers

Joint Projects

Go-To Resources for U.S. Manufacturing

MANUFACTURING USA INSTITUTES

FOCUS ON

Primarily one-on-one interactions between 

MEP Centers and SMMs in their state

MEP CENTERS

51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, 

trusted advisors and experts at MEP service locations 

serve local manufacturers but collaborate and share 

expertise nationally.

Centers work within a state ecosystem 

and provide fee-for-services to 

manufacturers.

Public-private Partnership

Public funder: Department of Commerce

Additional funding from state and local governments.

Education and workforce development 

in advanced technologies for SMMs

Technology transfer 

and implementation 

from the institutes 

• Spur creation and expansion of 

local and regional technology 

ecosystems 

• Work across the national 

innovation ecoystem to 

strengthen manufacturing 

Advanced 

Manufacturing 

Technology 

Innovation 

Ecosystems

 

• Lean and Continuous Improvement, 

Quality Management, Sustainability, 

Business Growth Services, 

Financial Services, Supply Chain 

Services, Risk Management

• Engineering Services/Plant Layout, 

Cybersecurity and Information 

Technology Services, Advanced 

Manufacturing Technology/Industry 

4.0 Services, Product Development 

support, Process Integration

Business 

Practices

Technical 

Services 

• Go-to resource for building 

manufacturing communities 

within states

Innovation 

Ecosystems

Public-private Partnership

Public funders: Departments of Commerce (1 institute),

Defense (9 institutes), Energy (6 institutes)

Matching funds provided by member companies, 

academic organizations, and state and local governments.

ManufacturingUSA.com nist.gov/mep

• Talent planning; customized skills 

training, including apprenticeships 

& industry recognized certifications; 

connections with state & local 

resources

Workforce Workforce