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 Manufacturing Innovation Blog Powered by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
 MEP National Network Digitize Your Onboarding and Training With the Modern Learner in Mind
                        April 21, 2023It’s time for a digital workforce transformation. Modern manufacturers have to juggle evolving expectations for workplace flexibility, pay, career paths and
 Susan Murray Carlock: Business Savvy Balanced by Personal Commitment
                        April 14, 2023This blog is part of a series highlighting women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry. Susan Murray Carlock is the Vice President of Business
 The Importance of Supply Chain Connectivity to Grow Your Business
                        April 6, 2023Manufacturing has always had an element of matchmaking at its core. As a supplier, you want to be found quickly by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
 Cydney Severio: From Stitcher to CEO
                        March 30, 2023This blog is part of a series for Women’s History Month to highlight women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry. CEO Cydney Severio has done
 Jessica Ingle: Continually Improving
                        March 22, 2023This blog is part of a series for Women’s History Month to highlight women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry. Jessica Ingle is like a lot
 Sarah Dvorak: Manufacturing is for Anyone Who Wants to Solve Problems and Serve Customers
                        March 16, 2023This blog is part of a series for Women’s History Month to highlight women who are making an impact on the manufacturing industry. Sarah Dvorak didn’t
 The One Workforce Attraction and Retention Strategy You Probably Haven’t Considered
                        March 1, 2023This blog is part of a monthly series brought to you by the America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of
 Bernadine Hawes: My Manufacturing Story
                        February 28, 2023This blog is part of a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. I didn’t start out even
 Asia Dillon: Making a Name for Herself as a Manufacturer
                        February 24, 2023This blog is part of a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. Asia Dillon is not your
 Video: Heroes of American Manufacturing – Sweet Grass Dairy
                        February 22, 2023People who really want to know where their food comes from often turn to small food manufacturers. Jessica Little, co-owner of Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville
 Rodney Reddic: Helping Texas Manufacturers Succeed
                        February 16, 2023This blog is part of a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. For more than 20 years, Rodney
 Business Continuity Plans: Lessons Learned From Puerto Rico
                        February 15, 2023The pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions have been harsh reminders of the need for manufacturers to create or update their business continuity plan
 Toyin Kolawole: Lifelong Entrepreneur and Founder of Iya Foods
                        February 7, 2023This blog is the first in a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. Toyin Kolawole is the
 Revolutionizing American Manufacturing
                        February 2, 2023A major focus of the current administration is revitalizing American manufacturing, and new technologies are changing the way things are made. Manufacturing
 The 2023 Workforce Development Word of the Year is ...
                        January 25, 2023This blog is part of a monthly series brought to you by the America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of
 Infographic: Training: Responding to the Skills Gap
                        January 12, 2023There aren’t enough workers to meet U.S. manufacturers’ needs. A 2021 survey by the National Association of Manufacturers found that 80% of companies say their
 When in Crisis, Manufacturers Can Look to Kata
                        January 5, 2023There is more to lean manufacturing than improving a few processes. Sustainable lean success requires a companywide culture of continuous daily improvement
 Support Manufacturers With Tasty and Pampering Holiday Gifts
                        December 22, 2022It’s that time of year again – the season when you start looking for holiday gifting ideas. Have you considered checking out your local manufacturers? They have
 5 Things We Learned in Germany
                        December 14, 2022This blog is part of a monthly series brought to you by the America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of
 Video: Heroes of American Manufacturing – BrightView Technologies
                        December 2, 2022A new video in the Heroes of American Manufacturing series features BrightView Technologies , a Durham, North Carolina, manufacturer. What makes BrightView a
 3 Lessons Manufacturers Can Learn From NASCAR Racing
                        November 29, 2022This blog is part of a monthly series brought to you by the America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of
 Grain to Glass: Distillery Showcases Everything Great About West Virginia
                        November 16, 2022With MEP Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), the MEP National NetworkTM has published more
 How to Improve Your New Hire Retention
                        November 2, 2022There is an occurrence so commonplace among manufacturers that there’s a name for it: “runners.” Runners are the new hires for entry-level jobs, often in their
 A Story of Student-Run Manufacturing Enterprises
                        October 31, 2022National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) provides students, parents and communities a glimpse of modern manufacturing. It’s held on the first Friday of October and
 Manufacturers – Stop Pushing the “Easy Button” on Your Workforce
                        October 25, 2022This blog is part of a monthly series brought to you by the America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of
 The MEP National Network Responds to Urgent Need for Medical Supplies in Wake of Hurricane Ian
                        October 19, 2022FloridaMakes , part of the MEP National Network TM , received an urgent request in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane
 Manufacturers Identify Top Challenges They Expect to Face
                        October 14, 2022When Nico asked me if I wanted to collaborate on this year’s challenges blog, my second thought after agreeing to the idea was a scene from the 2007 film “Music
 Manufacturing Day Gives Manufacturers the Opportunity to Shine – And Develop Their Future Workforce
                        October 7, 2022For years, U.S. manufacturers have struggled to find and keep good workers. The pandemic brought this to crisis level, and the difficult labor market has led
 Five Trends That Will Impact the Food Industry For Many Years
                        September 23, 2022The inability to gather good data has challenged many food manufacturers for decades. But not anymore. As sensor technology has improved, and technology
 How to Leverage Robotics to Promote Your Manufacturing Day
                        September 16, 2022Most in the manufacturing industry are familiar with Manufacturing Day . Held the first Friday in October, Manufacturing Day is when manufacturers open their
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 About this blog Manufacturing Innovation, the blog of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), is a resource for manufacturers, industry experts and the public on key U.S. manufacturing topics. There are articles for those looking to dive into new strategies emerging in manufacturing as well as useful information on tools and opportunities for manufacturers. The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST. If you have any questions about our blog, please contact us at mfg [at] nist.gov(mfg[at]nist[dot]gov).
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