Advanced Manufacturing at NIST

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Carroll Thomas, Director, MEP 

VCAT Meeting 

June 6, 2018

MISSION To strengthen and empower U.S. Manufacturers.
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP National Network Advancing U.S. Manufacturing

• Today’s Manufacturing in Brief

• All About MEP

• MEP Strategy and Priorities

• Connecting with NIST Labs- Highlighting Automation

• Connecting with MFG USA institutes

• MEP Initiatives- Supply Chain, Cybersecurity, Defense 

Industrial Base and Workforce

2
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Today’s Manufacturing

Facts about Manufacturing:

– 99% of all manufacturing firms have less than 500 employees and 75% of small 

manufacturing firms have less than 20 employees 

– Employ about 8.2 million people – 73% of all manufacturing employment, 

and account for about 62% of the total value-added by all U.S. manufacturers 

Challenges for Small Manufacturers:

– Productivity per employee in large establishments was 63% higher than 

productivity in small establishments. In 1967, productivity per employee was 

“only” 26% higher

– Over the last 10 years, productivity across smaller firms grew at a slightly faster 

rate than large firms (39% vs. 34%)

Sources: U.S. Census of Manufacturing & the Bureau of Economic Analysis
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Key Legislation

Congress passes Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act 

1988 (P.L. 100-418), creating a program geared to help U.S. 

manufacturers.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 (P.L. 108-447) 

renamed the program to Hollings Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership (MEP) - in honor of Senator Ernest Hollings who 

introduced the Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act.

The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017 

(P.L. 114-329) made the 1:1 cost share permanent and 

formalized recompetition for centers after 10 years of 

consecutive funding. 
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP Program in Short

MEP Network Budget

$140 Million Federal Budget 

with Cost Share 

Requirements for Centers

Global Competitiveness 

Program created in 1988 

and reauthorized by the 

American Innovation and 

Competitiveness Act in 2017

Evolving Role

Program continues to evolve in 

order to support manufacturers 

during changing economic 

situations

Started in 1988

A Center in all 50 states and 

Puerto Rico by 1996

National Network

51 Centers with over 400 field locations. More 

than 1,300 non-federal trusted advisors and 

experts for manufacturers nationwide, with 

nearly 2,100 partners

Partnership Model

Federal, State, University,

and Industry

5
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Nearly

2,100

Service Providers 

& Partners

Over

1,300

Manufacturing 

Experts 6

National 

Network

One Center in 

Every State & 

Puerto Rico

Over

400

Service 

Locations

Interacted with

26,313

Manufacturers

The Go-To Experts For Advancing U.S. Manufacturing
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP Centers Organizational Structure

North Dakota

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania 

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Washington

Wisconsin

California 

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Illinois

Kansas

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Mississippi

501(c)(6) - 1

501(c)(3) - 24 University - 17 State - 8

Nebraska

Nevada

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

West Virginia

Wyoming

Delaware 

Georgia

Iowa

Idaho

Indiana

Kentucky

Montana 

North Carolina

New York 

Ohio MEP

Virginia

Louisiana 

Alabama

Arkansas

Arizona

Hawaii

Alaska

501(c)(4) - 1

7
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Partnering to Drive a National Program

Nearly 300,000 Manufacturers in the U.S.

Nearly 2,100 Partners

Over 1,300 Center Staff

425 Field

Locations

National

Network

Customers

Small and Medium Sized 

Manufacturers

MEP Program

Integration, Knowledge 

Sharing, and Evaluation

8
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

How Centers Work with Manufacturers

Initial Contact

Group sessions, 

referral

Assessment

Informal walkthrough, detailed 

company analysis

Identify

Find potential issues, 

define proposed 

project and approach 

for solving it

Negotiate

Consult with company 

and sign project 

contract with fee paid 

to center

Project 

Execution

Center staff, partner 

organization, and/or 

third party consultants

Project impact data collected by contractor for NIST approximately 6-12 months after project completion

Follow-Up

After completion, project 

follow-up by center to 

assure customer 

satisfaction and explore 

further project 

opportunities

9
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Program Evaluation

• NIST MEP has a two-pronged approach: – Help manufacturers in the United States lower costs – i.e., make products the right way

– Help manufacturers in the United States increase revenues – i.e., make the right products for the 

right customers

• MEP Performance and Evaluation Portfolio

– Impact Data from Third Party Client Impact Survey: New sales, cost-savings, investments, & 

jobs attributed to MEP services. Used in part to develop center performance metrics. Since 1999. 

Survey all clients. @ 8-9K clients annually

– Quasi-Experimental/Longitudinal Studies: Focus on assessing the comparative performance of 

MEP clients relative to similar firms that did not receive MEP services. Episodic studies done over 

time

– Case Studies: Focus on successful and pilot MEP projects to gain insight into variables at both 

the firm and industry-level that impact technology adoption and business transformation. Examples 

include process evaluation of the B2B pilot

– Impact Studies: Economic impact analysis of Client Impacts using models such as REMI. 

Examples include the Upjohn study

10
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

11

MEP National Network connected with 26,313 manufacturers in FY17
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP Economic Impact Analysis

219,148 142,381 $22.01 

Billion

14.5:1

RETURN ON 

INVESTMENT

In April 2018, the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research published a study that 

found the MEP Program generated a substantial return on investment of nearly 14.5:1 for the 

$128.0 million invested by the federal government.

12
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP National NetworkTM 2017-2022 Strategic Goals 

EMPOWER 

MANUFACTURERS

CHAMPION 

MANUFACTURING

TRANSFORM THE 

NETWORK

LEVERAGE 

PARTNERSHIPS

Objective— to assist U.S. 

manufacturers in embracing 

productivity-enhancing 

innovative manufacturing 

technologies, navigate 

advanced technology solutions 

and recruit and retain a skilled 

and diverse workforce.

Objective— to actively promote the 

importance of a strong 

manufacturing base as key to a 

robust U.S. economy and for the 

protection of national security 

interests; create awareness of 

innovations in manufacturing; create 

workforce development partnerships 

to build a stronger and diverse 

workforce pipeline; and maximize 

market awareness of the MEP 

National Network.

Objective— to leverage 

national, regional, state and local 

partnerships to gain substantial 

increase in market penetration; 

identify mission-complementary 

advocates to help MEP become 

a recognized manufacturing 

resource brand; build an 

expanded service delivery model 

to support manufacturing 

technology advances.

Objective— to maximize 

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.

13
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Empower Manufacturers- Network Priorities

DEFINED AREAS OF FOCUS FOR MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES

• Cybersecurity - National Network implementation and current assessment/future trends 

• Digital manufacturing - National Network implementation and current assessment in industry 

and National Network/future trends 

• Automation and robotics - current assessment in industry and National Network/future 

trends 

• Additive manufacturing - 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 

14

Assist U.S. manufacturers in adopting productivity-enhancing innovative manufacturing technologies, help 

inform and navigate advanced technology solutions...
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

NIST MEP Connects with the Engineering Lab

Date: 2015 – present

Project/Topic: Collaborative Robotics for Small & Medium-Sized Manufacturers

• NIST MEP & Maryland MEP facilitated a connection between NIST EL 

Intelligent Systems Division robotics researchers and several MEP 

Centers in the mid-Atlantic Region 

• MD MEP conducted technical workshop in October 2015 for NIST EL to allow robotic end 

users from broad cross section of U.S. small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to 

communicate challenges and barriers they encounter when integrating and using robotics in 

their factories 

– Event attended by 29 representatives of manufacturing companies and systems integrators located 

in MD, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, and WV

– Workshop also attended by 12 representatives from 9 MEP Centers located in 7 different states, 

4 NIST MEP representatives, and 8 researchers from NIST EL

• Report delivered to NIST EL from NIST MEP in 2016 highlighting workshop findings and next 

step recommendations

• Ongoing activities in 2018 include: improving SMM awareness of Cobot technologies 

through MEP National Network; providing SMM use cases to NIST Cobot research 

programs; improving SMM standards participation through MEP Centers

– South Dakota MEP Center participating on ASTM Cobot Standards Committee with NIST EL and 

also operating program to prove out cobot technology prior to small manufacturer implementation 

Elena Messina

Group Leader, Manipulation 

and Mobility Systems, 

Engineering Laboratory

Al Wavering

Division Chief, Intelligent 

Systems, 

Engineering Laboratory

15
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

NIST MEP Connects with the Engineering Lab

Start Date: Spring 2018

Project/Topic: Metal Additive Manufacturing

• NIST MEP coordinated a one day workshop at NIST in March 2018 involving 

MEP National Network additive manufacturing practitioners from 11 MEP Centers 

around the country, and research staff from the NIST Intelligent Systems Division, 

with a focus on:

– Having MEP practitioners share SMM practices and needs with NIST researchers

– Having NIST EL researchers share leading-edge resources, such as technologies, 

reference materials and databases, with MEP practitioners 

• NIST MEP Blog on workshop published in April 2018

• Resulting activities include ongoing dialogue between participants to connect 

SMMs with NIST metal additive research through MEP Centers and NIST MEP

• Co-authored blog: Five Surprising Factoids About Metal Additive Manufacturing

– Published April 20, 2018 by Tab Wilkins and Marlon Walker

Alkan Donmez

Group Leader, Production 

Systems, 

Engineering Laboratory

Al Wavering

Division Chief, Intelligent 

Systems, 

Engineering Laboratory

16
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP-Assisted Technology and Technical Resource Program (MATTR)

SMM-Initiated Inquiry: 

Connection to NIST through 

MEP Center and NIST MEP

NIST Initiated Inquiry:

Connection through NIST 

MEP and MEP Centers

Field 

staff

Company 

POC

MATTR program

personnel

NIST scientist 

or engineer

In this way, the manufacturing community can help identify research priorities for NIST

NIST staff can also inquire through the MEP National Network if there are technical areas in which 

standards, calibrations, or innovative measurement science techniques are needed

MATTR proved in pilot - will now receive $500k to pay for 

NIST Labs expertise and user facilities for SMEs

17
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

18

MATTR Connections

• There have been 22 submissions from 12 centers from 12 states

• + ~5 in progress / about to be submitted 

• There have been 4 information “pushes” from NIST scientists to MEP Center staff 

through NIST MEP, several requests from MEP Center staff for dialogue with a NIST 

professional, and numerous occurrences of information disclosure about the MATTR 

program to NIST staff

• Practitioner workshop conducted with participation from several MEP centers, NIST MEP, 

and NIST labs was held on metal additive manufacturing at NIST MEP

• NCNR

• PML, Mass and Force Group Labs (Force Lab)

• EL, Manipulation and Mobility Systems Group Labs (Robotics)

• EL, Production Systems Group Labs (Metal Additive Manufacturing)

• MML, Mechanical Performance Group Labs (NCAL)

• EL, Systems Engineering Group Labs (Digital Thread)

• EL, Net Zero House

• EL, Networked Control Systems Group Labs (Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity)

• CNST

Plus Several Lab Tours...
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Manufacturing USA

Regional Hubs with National Impact

Regenerative 

Manufacturing

Manchester, NH

Advanced Fibers 

and Textiles

Cambridge, MA

Digital Manufacturing & Design

Chicago, IL

Sustainable 

Manufacturing

Rochester, NY

Integrated 

Photonics

Albany, NY

Modular 

Chemical 

Process 

Intensification

New York, NY

Bio- pharmaceutical 

Manufacturing

Newark, DE

Wide Bandgap 

Semiconductors

Raleigh, NC

Advanced 

Robotics

Pittsburgh, PA

Advanced 

Composites 

Knoxville, TN

Additive 

Manufacturing

Youngstown, OH

Lightweight 

Metals

Detroit, MI

Smart Sensors 

and Digital Process Control

Los Angeles, CA

Flexible Hybrid 

Electronics

San Jose, CA
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Embedding MEP into the Manufacturing USA 

Institutes: SUMMARY

• MEP investing ~$17M over 2 years to embed MEP National Network staff in 

residence at all 14 Manufacturing USA Institutes

• Embedding projects focused on engaging U.S. SMMs in technology focus areas 

of Institutes via MEP National Network service mechanisms and assistance

– Institute technology focus areas generally not well known among U.S. SMMs

– Engagements can include deploying technologies into products and processes, 

as well as capitalizing on supply chain opportunities

• Projects working to create nationwide expertise in Institute technology focus 

areas across MEP National Network to scale U.S. SMM engagement to large, 

impactful, national level

20
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Embedding MEP into Manufacturing USA Institutes

14 NIST MEP-funded 

Embedding Projects 

operating with MEP National 

Network and all 

14 Manufacturing USA 

Institutes

Focused on creating 

sustainable business models 

aligned with needs of U.S. 

SMMs, Institutes, and MEP 

Centers 

LEAD MEP CENTER MFG USA INSTITUTE

CA MEP CESMII

CA MEP Next Flex

DE MEP NIIMBL

Illinois Mfg Excellence Center DMDII

Mass MEP AFFOA

Mass MEP BioFab USA

Michigan Mfg Technology Center LIFT

NC MEP Power America

NY MEP AIM Photonics

NY MEP REMADE

OMEP RAPID

PA MEP Advanced Robotics

PA MEP America Makes

TN MEP IACMI

21
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Embedding Project Sample Results: 

MMTC / LIFT, TN MEP / IACMI

Multiple Partners Create and Debut New 

Lightweight Specialty Car Frames 

• The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center 

(MEP Center) and industry partners embarked on a 

collaborative project in 2017, leading to the 

invention of a lightweight aftermarket car frame 

– Lightweight alternative ideal for replacing car 

frames on nearly any specialty vehicle

– Offers affordable, stiffer and safer car frame 

option 

– Requires no welding, reducing material cost; 

uses morphing software to allow lightweight 

frame to fit virtually any body and length

– Lead engineer from MMTC worked with software 

developer and trusted OEM consultant Detroit 

Engineered Products (DEP) and LIFT, IACMI, and TN 

MEP

– In response to multiple requests for purchase, 

Michigan’s MEP Center now pursuing investments to 

fund low-volume production of frames, including 

tooling and testing 

– Forward-looking engineering offers a great 

opportunity for innovation across numerous 

industries, and project leads are gauging interest 

outside the arena of car restoration 

C2 Corvette (1963 to 1967) 

lightweight alternative frame 

22
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP Embedding Project at NIIMBL

• DE MEP staff member embedded full-time at NIIMBL

– Project also includes participation from NC MEP, Mass MEP

• Centers located in high density areas for biopharmaceutical manufacturing

• States with NIIMBL-university partnerships (MIT, NCSU)

– NJ MEP recently became NIIMBL member

• Project mapping geographic locations of U.S. biopharmaceutical industry

– Clusters in MA, NC, TX, CA, mid-Atlantic

– Supply chain for equipment is more geographically diverse

• “Traditional MEP services” needed in equipment supply chain

• Project delivering understanding of biopharmaceutical industry to MEP National Network

– Biopharmaceutical industry is new to MEP

– In the past 5 years, MEP Centers have done 130 projects with companies in 

biopharmaceutical NAICS 

23

NIIMBL — National Institute

for Innovation in

Manufacturing 

Biopharmaceuticals

Newark, DE
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

A Majority of Manufacturing Costs Are in the 

Supply Chain

52%

53%

52%

57%

59%

48%

50%

52%

54%

56%

58%

60%

1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Share of Manufacturing Costs in Purchasing Materials Up 7 Percentage 

Points

Source: Executive Office of the President and the Dept of Commerce (March 2015) 

Supply Chain Innovation: Strengthening America’s Small Manufacturers. 24
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP National Network & Supply Chains

• Extensive, decades-long experience providing direct, hands-on assistance with 

manufacturing supply chains 

• Targets whole supply chains, plus individual manufacturer assistance to OEMs, 

lower tier suppliers 

• Centers provide localized assistance on national scale to maximize impacts at micro 

(individual supplier) and macro (overall supply chain) levels 

MEP National Network Supply Chain supports:

• Supply Chain Optimization

• Supplier Improvement

• Supplier Scouting 

• Supply Chain Technology Acceleration

• Supply Chain Sustainability

25
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Supply Chain Services

Supply Chain Optimization - approaches supply chains from a systems perspective and 

helps manufacturers build dynamic supply chains through the use of strategy, risk 

management, total cost of ownership, supplier communication, and supplier assessments. 

Supplier Improvement - works with individual suppliers to improve their position in 

supply chains. 

Supplier Scouting - leverages MEP’s knowledge of local manufacturing capabilities and 

capacities to connect U.S. manufacturers with business opportunities tied to specific 

supply chain needs from OEMs and government agencies. This also includes supply 

chain re-shoring efforts.

Supply Chain Sustainability - includes multi-agency initiatives such as the Green 

Suppliers network, E3 (Economy, Energy, and Environment), and Energy Efficient 

Buildings Hub – to help reduce supplier impacts on the environment, provide 

manufacturers with sustainability assessments of production processes, and assist with 

the implementation of energy-saving projects. 

26
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Supply Chain Optimization

Equips manufacturers with tools to integrate strategy into 

collaboration across the multiple tiers of their supply 

chains.

MEP helps manufacturers use a strategic approach to 

develop a synchronized plan optimized across the value 

and supply chains.

– Reduces risk and volatility

– Increases collaboration with suppliers

– Reveals the true total cost of the supply chain

– Increases capability to develop and distribute products

Success Story: 

Sync Strand of South Carolina 

gained more than $2 Million 

increased sales and retained

8 jobs as a result of the program.

27
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Supplier Scouting

• Connects the capabilities, capacities, and business 

interests of U.S. manufacturers with the needs and 

business opportunities of various manufacturing supply 

chains.

• Connects government agencies that have Buy American 

provision requirements to U.S. manufacturers.

• Supplier Scouting has identified and connected domestic 

manufacturers with business opportunities for supply 

chains in the following industry sectors: 

• Energy products • Highway systems

• Passenger rail cars • Waterborne transportation systems

• Rail locomotives • Laboratory instruments

• Railroad track and physical infrastructure

15 

199

Over $163 Million

Participating Government 

Agencies

Items Scouted

New Business Opportunities

28
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP & DoD Supply Chain

MEP National Network routinely works 

with manufacturers that supply products to DoD

• Since 2013 MEP Centers have completed over 2,500 projects with 1,650 

companies that are prime suppliers to DoD

• From 2014-2017 MEP Centers in 23 States worked with DoD’s Office of 

Economic Adjustment (OEA) Defense Industry Adjustment program to 

help communities and companies diversify their capabilities and products

• MilTech Partnership Intermediary organization leveraging MEP Centers to 

provide technical assistance to U.S. manufacturers to transition critical 

technology into products needed for DoD warfighter

• Supplier Scouting and Development for various DoD needs

29
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP & DoD Supply Chain: Cybersecurity

• In 2017, MEP National Network focused on assisting defense manufacturers to comply with 

acquisition related (DFARS) cybersecurity requirements for manufacturing supply chains 

– Ensure adequate security to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) relevant to defense 

manufacturing supply chains

– Cyber security requirements call for defense suppliers to implement security requirements contained 

in NIST Special Publication 800-171 rev 1, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in 

Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations” 

– MEP Centers, working in collaboration with DoD’s Procurement Technical Assistance Centers 

(PTACs) and with guidance from NIST MEP, more than 60 cybersecurity awareness events 

conducted by MEP Centers overall, reaching more than 1,700 small U.S. manufacturers

• NIST MEP published Cybersecurity Self-Assessment Handbook, NIST Handbook 162, to 

assist small manufacturers with NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS compliance

– NIST Handbook 162 downloaded from NIST MEP webpages >15,000 times since November 2017

– NIST MEP has trained manufacturing specialists operating in roughly 38 of 51 MEP Centers

30
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Additional MEP Cybersecurity DoD and Industry Efforts

• MEP closely monitors DoD acquisition requirements, works with them to define compliance, holds events 

for SMMs, trains MEP Centers staff to deploy assessments and implementation of 800-171 controls for 

DoD suppliers

• NIST MEP led Interagency WG on Cybersecurity for Manufacturing responding to 2017 Executive Order 

13806 analyzing Defense Industrial Base

• Signed MOU with DoD funded Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)

– National pilot collaboration w/PTACs in multiple states to assist SMMs w/DFARS compliance by end of December 

2017

– CO, CT, GA, MI, RI, VT, WA initial pilot states, with other events in other states 

• MEP Centers offer assistance to small manufacturers implementing 800-171

– Training, Web-based resources, FAQs, 3rd Party Service Providers, Guidance and Tools: basic to advanced

– 150 cybersecurity assistance projects conducted by MEP Centers

• MEP collaborated with ITL to develop 800-171A, “Building Effective Assessment Plans”

• Baldrige Quality Excellence Program created Cyber Security Excellence Builder

– Voluntary self-assessment tool that enables organizations to better understand effectiveness of their 

cybersecurity risk management efforts 

– Blends systems perspective of Baldrige Excellence Framework with Cybersecurity Framework

– Incorporates content outlined in Cybersecurity Framework into 6 elements of Baldrige approach

31
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

MEP National Network Engaged in Workforce Solutions

• MEP centers are involved in a wide variety of 

activities to help build the workforce development 

eco-system for manufacturing.

• Essential components of these efforts include: 

– Ensuring access to career ladders 

– Reviewing competitive wages and benefits 

– Identifying training opportunities and skill certifications

– Assisting companies with work-based learning mentorships, 

internships, apprenticeships

– Talent planning

– Customized training opportunities

32
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Workforce Development and Automation

• MEP Centers help SMMs gain competitive edge via automation:

– PA MEP and Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Institute (ARM) create Southwestern PA 

Advanced Robotics (SWPA AR) working group for local manufacturers, suppliers and 

integrators, to be accompanied by education and training materials to facilitate industry 

adoption and expansion of robotics practice areas throughout the MEP National Network

– South Dakota MEP Center participating on ASTM Cobot Standards Committee with 

NIST EL and also operating program to prove out cobot technology 

prior to small manufacturer implementation 

– New Mexico MEP partners with Build With Robots to introduce 

New Mexico SMMs to cobots and show how they’re used to 

automate quickly and cost-effectively

– MEP Center blog- Robots, Cobots & Human Labor debunk myths 

about automation and workforce to educate SMMs

– MEP Centers support robotics competition involving 

partnerships between high 

schools and manufacturers

33
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Workcred Research Project

The report on the study will be ready in early June. A draft shows:

– Significant lack of independent research regarding the quality, market value, and effectiveness of 

manufacturing specific credentials 

– Report contributes to body of knowledge for manufacturing related skill credentials

– Identifies gaps that could be filled by creating new credentials and replacing existing ones that 

are ineffective; identifies credentials being used by manufacturers representative of the industry

– Evaluates the quality of the credentials against national and/or international standards

– Determines the market value of credentials based on data from the credential issuer

– Determines how the credential is being used and how the effectiveness of the credential is being 

determined in work settings

– Identifies the need for new credentials, the scope and outcomes needed of the credentials, and 

what organizations might be willing and capable of creating the credential

34

Examining the Quality, Market Value, and Effectiveness of Manufacturing Credentials

Sponsored by MEP, in coordination with NIST SCO, we have engaged Workcred, an 

affiliate of ANSI
MEP Overview

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP  

Thank You!