Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program

• Since 1988, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has been 

committed to strengthening U.S. manufacturing, continually evolving to meet 

the changing needs of manufacturers.

• MEP has had a profound impact on the growth of well-paying jobs, the 

development of dynamic manufacturing communities, and the enhancement 

of American innovation and global competitiveness.

• Centers:

– Educate local and regional partners on small and medium sized 

manufacturer needs and drivers of behavior.

– Provide outreach to manufacturers by connecting them to other 

programs and services offered by partner organizations.

– Connect the gap between technology developers / R&D organizations and 

manufacturers: finding firms that are interested in a particular 

technology, as well as informing tech developers of manufacturer’s 

technology needs.

– Support workforce development programs.
• MEP is built on a nationwide system of centers located in all 50 states and 

Puerto Rico – each being a partnership between the federal government and a 

variety of public or private entities.

• MEP centers have helped thousands of manufacturers reinvent themselves, 

increase profits, create or maintain jobs, and establish a foundation for longterm business growth and productivity.
Malcolm Baldrige Program – an Overview

• The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is a public-private partnership 

used to assess and improve the performance of the nation’s companies and 

organizations, Baldrige is recognized, utilized, and emulated around the world.

– created to manage the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, A presidential 

recognition designed to identify role model organizations that commit to share 

their best practices so as to help other organizations improve.

• The Program’s ultimate purpose is to improve the leadership and management 

of organizations to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability 

– Therefore Baldrige’s standard of excellence, the Criteria for Performance Excellence, 

are regularly updated to remain at the leading edge of validated leadership and 

performance improvement practices. 

• NIST, as a nonregulatory federal agency of the Department of Commerce, 

advances measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that 

enhance economic security and improve the quality of life.

– Congress selected NIST to design and manage the Baldrige Program because of its 

role in helping U.S. companies compete, its world renowned expertise in quality 

and measurement, and its reputation as an impartial third party. 
Malcolm Baldrige Program – Current State

• In Fiscal Year 2012 federal funding for the Baldrige Program was eliminated by Congress. 

– It should be noted that the President’s 2012 budget proposal for the Baldrige Program was for 

$7.7M, a decrease of $1.9M with guidance that the Baldrige Program would begin to explore 

options for increased external support.

– Instead, Congress eliminated all funding.

• With the sudden loss of $9.6 million in federal appropriations in November 2011, the 

Baldrige Program created a business plan for continuing operations. This plan was 

approved by the Department of Commerce in April 2012. 

• Since then, the program has operated under a business model based on cost recovery 

through product and service fees, cost reduction and control, and an increase in Baldrige 

Foundation support through a gift to the Department of Commerce. 

• In addition, the program commissioned an analysis of the Baldrige brand and embarked on 

a multiyear effort to increase the size of its market, enhance brand recognition, develop 

new products and services, and leverage nationwide partnerships to expand their reach 

and impact. 

• Despite increasing operational revenues by 100% and decreasing costs by more than 50%, 

the Program is at risk without the restoration of some federal appropriation. 
Manufacturing Extension 

NIST MEP Advisory Board Briefing 

for the NIST VCAT

February 4, 2015

Vickie Wessel, Chair

Bernadine Hawes, Member
Vickie Wessel, Chair

Founder and President of Spirit 

Electronics, Inc.

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 6
Agenda

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 7

• Introduction of NIST MEP Advisory Boards

- Members, Charter, Priorities

• MEP Mission, Role, Program Highlights

• Exemplary Center – Delaware Valley Industrial 

Resource Center

• Board Committees

- Technology Acceleration

- Local Board Governance

• Communication Channels
MEP Advisory Board

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 8

Vickie Wessel *, Chair of Board

Founder & President of Sprit Electronics in 

Phoenix, AZ

Jeffrey Wilcox, Vice Chair of Board

Vice President for Engineering at Lockheed 

Martin in Bethesda, MD

Dennis Dotson *

Chairman of Dotson Iron Castings in 

Mankato, MN

Carolyn Cason *

Vice President for Research at the 

University of Texas in Arlington, TX

Roy Church *

President of Lorain County Community 

College in Elyria, OH

Eileen Guarino*

President & COO of Greno Industries, a 

machine parts manufacturing company in 

Scotia, NY

Bernadine Hawes*

Senior Research Analyst for Community 

Marketing Concepts in Philadelphia, PA.

Thomas Lee

President & CEO of Vulcan Inc., an 

aluminum manufacturing company in Foley, 

AL.

William Shorma*

President & CEO of Rush-CO, an 

engineered metal and cover system 

manufacturing company in Springfield, SD.

Ed Wolbert*

President & CEO of Transco Products Inc., 

a manufacturer to the nuclear power 

industry, in Chicago, IL. * Member, Local MEP Board
MEP Advisory Board Charter

Authority: The MEP Advisory Board is authorized under the America COMPETES 

Act OF 2007; in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act (FACA)

Description of Duties:

• Provide advice on MEP programs, plans, and policies.

• Assess the soundness of MEP plans and strategies.

• Assess current performance against MEP program plans.

• Function solely in an advisory capacity, in accordance with the provisions of 

the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App.

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 9
2015 Board Priorities

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 10

Provide guidance on...

Technology acceleration

• Local board governance

Review progress of...

• Recompetition of the national system of 60 local Centers by 2017

• Congressional actions to adjust non-federal cost share

• Greater focus of tech transfer, workforce development, and 

domestic supply chains
MEP Mission and Role

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 11

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 and 

research laboratories and agencies.
MEP Strategic Plan (2014-2017)

Strategic Goals

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 12

ENHANCE COMPETITIVENESS CHAMPION MANUFACTURING

SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOP CAPABILITIES
The MEP Program in Summary

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 13

MEP System Budget

$130 Million Federal Budget 

with Cost Share

Requirements for Centers

Global Competitiveness 

Program was created by the 

1988 Omnibus Trade And 

Competitiveness Act

Emphasis on Performance

Program and center 

performance based upon 

impact of center services on 

client firm

Program Started in 1988

At least one center in all 50 

states by 1996

National Network

60 Centers with over 500 Field Locations. 

System wide, Non-Federal Staff is over 1,200. 

Contracting over 2,100 third party service 

providers.

Partnership Model

Federal, State

and Industry
The National Network

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 14
Delaware Valley Industrial Resource 

Center

Corporate Overview

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 15
Region Served & Center Locations

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 16
Service Delivery Model

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 17

Center Service Delivery Model and Products

The DVIRC has a service delivery model that both Center staff and 3rd 

party providers deploy through 3 value streams, Consulting Services, 

Training & Education, and Network Groups. Streams are separate but 

connected

• Consulting Services – Typical Number of projects 247 with 161 

companies annually

• Network Groups – 135 members with 90 companies annually

• Training & Education – 536 attendees with 233 companies annually 

Design is: all roads eventually lead to or return to Consulting, where 

measurable impact on companies and service related revenue are 

optimized.
Funding History

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 18

20%

22%

17%

38%

3%

DVIRC Funding FY 13/14 - $6.7 Million

Core Federal

Other Federal

Core State

Company Service Revenue

Other
Actual Market & Market Penetration for FY 2014

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 19

Emp. Size Total Firms Pct. Firms Unique Firms 

Worked With

Pct. Projects

1-19 2,743 70.2% 43 1.5%

20-49 667 17.0% 77 11.5%

50-99 249 6.3% 43 17.2%

100-249 187 4.7% 33 17.6%

250-499 30 0.7% 16 53.3%

500+ 31 0.7% 4 12.9%

Total 3,907 100% 216 5.5%

^Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns provides employment size.
Advisory Board Committee on 

Technology Acceleration

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 20

Committee Members:

Jeff Wilcox, Chair

Carolyn Cason

Roy Church

Bernadine Hawes

William Shorma

Ed Wolbert
Technology Acceleration Definition

“...integrating technology into the products, processes, 

services and business models of manufacturers to solve 

manufacturing problems or pursue opportunities and 

facilitate competitiveness and enhance manufacturing 

growth.

Technology Acceleration spans the innovation continuum 

and can include aspects of technology transfer, technology 

transition, technology diffusion, technology deployment and 

manufacturing implementation.”

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 21
Tech Acceleration Work Plan

• Objective – Prepare a recommended plan to guide the 

development and deployment of technology acceleration services 

in the MEP system

– The Implementation Plan will articulate the strategy to guide development 

and deployment of technology acceleration services in the MEP system. 

• Tasks

1. Foundation Building

2. Data Collection and Analysis

3. Evaluation of Potential Future Actions/Investments

4. Develop Implementation Plan

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 22
Advisory Board Committee on Local 

Board Distinctive Practice and 

Governance

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 23

Committee Members:

Vickie Wessel, Chair

Dennis Dotson

Eileen Guarino

Tommy Lee
Purpose of the Committee on Board Distinctive 

Practices and Governance

To implement the strategic objective of increasing roles of the 

national and center boards including:

• Increase connectivity between national and Center Boards

• Ensure Board members serves as manufacturing advocates

• Strengthen Board governance and accountability

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 24
February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 25

MEP Centers Organizational Structure

34 17 8

501 C(3) University State Entity

Mississippi

North Dakota

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania (7)

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Utah

Washington

Wisconsin

California (2)

Colorado

Connecticut

Connecticut

Florida

Illinois

Kansas

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nevada

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Northwest Wisconsin

West Virginia

Wyoming

Delaware MEP

Georgia

Iowa

Idaho

Kentucky

Louisiana

Montana

North Carolina

Nebraska

Indiana

New York 

Ohio MEP

Virginia 

Alabama

Arkansas

Arizona

Hawaii
The Team Advisors

MAB Committee Members

Vickie Wessel – Chair RevAZ

Denny Dotson Enterprise MN

Eileen Guarino NY MEP

Tommy Lee ATN

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 26

NIST MEP

Mike Simpson Lead, NIST MEP System Operations Director

Gary Thompson NIST RMST (former Center Director, TechHelp)

Phillip Wadsworth NIST RMST (Former Center Director, Indiana MEP)

Wiza Lequin NIST MEP, Program Manager for Center Operations

MEP Center Boards

Ray Yeager Catalyst Fiduciary

Carl Spang Maine MEP Fiduciary

Mark Tyler NW-Stout Advisory

Tom Fallo CMTC Fiduciary

Loren Lyon Impact WA Fiduciary

MEP Center Directors

1. Bonnie Del Conte ConnStep 501c3 Fiduciary/Advisory Boards

2. Paddy Fleming Montana MEP University based Advisory Board

3. Bill Donohue GenEdge, VA State Entity Advisory Board

4. Mike O’Donnell CIRAS University Advisory Board

5. Mike Coast Michigan MEP 501c3 Fiduciary Board

Felipe Hernandez PR Fiduciary

Robert Sproles AMS Advisory

Alan Edington TN MEP Advisory

Grant Goodwin NC MEP Advisory

Eric Stebbins NM MEP Fiduciary
2015 Board Priorities

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 27

Provide guidance on...

Technology acceleration

• Local board governance

Review progress of...

• Recompetition of the national system of 60 local Centers by 2017

• Congressional actions to adjust non-federal cost share

• Greater focus of tech transfer, workforce development, and 

domestic supply chains
Questions?

February 4, 2015 Manufacturing Extension Partnership 28