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Final Agenda for MEP Update Meeting
Next week, NIST MEP will hold a system-wide Update Meeting in Phoenix, AZ. There are over 180 attendees registered for this meeting. Logistical information as well as the final agenda can be found on our event site. We look forward to seeing many of you in Phoenix next week!
Contact: Kari Reidy at Kari.reidy@nist.gov | (301) 975-4919.
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Five Centers participate in four Advanced Manufacturing Technology Planning Grants
NIST has announced 16 Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) awards totaling $7.8 million to help accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the U.S. The grants will support industry-driven consortia in developing research plans and charting collaborative actions to solve high-priority technology challenges. A total of five MEP Centers will participate in four of the AMTech Awards, as follows:
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortium for Aerospace (AMTCA); Collaborator: MAGNET (Ohio MEP)
Read project brief
- Biomedical Devices and Equipment Consortium Organization to Roadmap Industry (BIOCOR); Collaborator: California Manufacturing Technology Consulting
Read project brief
- Center for Accelerated Development of Large-Scale Structures (CADLSS); Collaborator: Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEPOL), Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Studies (an InnovateMEP Mississippi partner)
Read project brief
- Consortium for Large-Scale Precision Manufacturing Innovation Collaborator: North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Read project brief
Contact: Ben Vickery |ben.vickery@nist.gov | (301) 975-2954
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Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) joined U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez today as he announced that up to $35.5 million in funding is now available through the Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative. POWER, which was announced at the end of March, is an EDA-led, coordinated effort among multiple federal agencies using existing resources to provide integrated and coordinated investments in communities and workers negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.
The Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), which opened today, outlines the POWER Initiative implementation grant priorities, evaluation factors, and application guidance for the up to $12.5 million in funding from the EDA, up to $20 million from Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and up to $2.5 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and up to $500,000 from Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
Tthis FFO announces the intent to award grants competitively to partnerships of regionally-driven economic development and workforce development organizations anchored in impacted coal communities. Although resources from EDA, ETA, ARC, and SBA are made available through this FFO, applicants need to apply separately for each funding source they are interested in pursuing. The deadline for receipt of applications for EDA and ARC funding is July 10, 2015, and applications for ETA funding will be accepted on a rolling basis. Proposals for SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters Program contract solicitation will be accepted on a rolling basis after June 1, 2015.
For more information on POWER visit here.
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National Maker Faire
Do you work with Makers in your community? If so, please encourage them to exhibit at the National Maker Faire in DC. The deadline to submit your application to exhibit is May 18th.
On June 12th-13th, 2015, makers from across the U.S. will convene in Washington, DC—to celebrate Making at the inaugural National Maker Faire. A collaboration between NationOfMakers.org*, the DC Government, the University of the District of Columbia, and Maker Media, the National Maker Faire is bringing inventors, tinkerers, and makers of all ages to our Nation’s capital. Occurring at the beginning of the “Week of Making” on June 12-13, 2015, the celebration gives curious, inventive people a place to share what they love to make.
Attendees at this family-friendly, free event will have the opportunity to interact with technologies including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, electronic instruments, 3D printers, as well as STEM projects, textiles, crafting activities, homemade robots and more. The Faire will feature local inventors from the local community in a “DC showcase”, in addition to makers representing communities across America. The National Maker Faire will show the geographic diversity of making across the nation, and will showcase diversity among makers, with representation from Minority Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Federal agencies and departments, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
For more information visit the website or contact Heidi Sheppard at heidi.sheppard@nist.gov.
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Save the Date – September MEP Update Meeting
The next system-wide Update Meeting will be held in Dallas, TX on September 23, 2015 and the NIST MEP Advisory Board will meet on September 24th. The meetings will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas. More details regarding registration, hotel room block and agenda will be forthcoming shortly. Please mark your calendars!
In addition, the American Small Manufacturer’s Coalition (ASMC) will be holding a Center Best Practice conference on September 21-22, 2015 in Dallas, TX as well.
Contact: Kari Reidy at kari.reidy@nist.gov or 301-975-4919.
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NIST MEP Needs Your Help
NIST MEP recently received an information request from Dr. Susan Helper, Chief Economist at the US Department of Commerce, and Dr. Suzanne Suzanne de Treville, Professor of Operations Management, University of Lausanne. Drs. Helper and de Treville are studying supply chains and the value of lead time, particularly as it influences competitiveness. They asked us to suggest companies that could/should be included in the study, preferably companies that have: far-flung supply chains, volatile orders, a big difference between full selling price and product scrap value, and (perhaps) experience with MEP. Volunteers will test a simple calculator for the cost of lead time, available at acetool.commerce.gov/inventory, and receive free consultation on its use. The first step would be a 30-minute phone call to walk through the tool, followed by more in-depth discussion if desired. Firms need not reveal any proprietary information to participate.
For more information, call Mark Schmit at 301-975-3255. (Or to actually get answers to your questions, please contact either Dr. Helper or Dr. de Treville.
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What NIST MEP is Reading
Through the AMJIAC grant, the CREC in WA State has released three of four industry market research reports that could be of value to you and your region.
1. Making Prosperity - Creating a Sound Economy Through Advanced Manufacturing with Advanced Materials, Robust Supply Chains, and Exports
2. Powering the Future of Manufacturing with Computers & Electronics
3. Flying into the Future with Aerospace & Defense
You can also find them here. A fourth report will be released later this year.
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MEP in the News
- Remarks from U.S. Commerce Secretary Pritzker at the Global Supply Chain Summit 2015 reference MEP and MANTEC client, Bollman Hats. Read More
- NEPIRC Promotes PA Manufacturers at International Plastics Expo Read More
- News from Enterprise Minnesota's State of Manufacturing Survey: Minnesota Manufacturers say they're bullish on growth (Read More) and Manufacturers upbeat despite workforce concerns (Read More)
- USTDA Partners with Nevada Industry Excellence to connect U.S. firms to sales opportunities beyong our borders. Read More
- Tenax Corp., an MD MEP client, explands its Baltimore plant. Read More
Send us your news, events and activities! Email us at mepeblast@nist.gov
NEW! May 21, 2015
Salesforce Working Group Webinar
2:00 - 3:00 pm EDT
The Salesforce/CRM Working group will discuss Midwest Dreamin’ & MEP Salesforce User’s Event in Chicago and Salesforce Summer ’15 Release highlights. The leader is Brenda Story of Missouri Enterprise.
Webinar detail: Link | Meeting Number: 738 141 057 | Meeting Password: Welcome1234! | Dial In: 866-218-2764
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May 27 and 28, 2015
Two Day Toyota Kata Workshop
Impact Washington will be hosting two day Toyota Kata workshop. With Toyota Kata, Mike Rother, the Shingo Prize winning author of Learning to See has advanced the practice of lean, providing a systematic, scientific routine that can be applied to any goal. It has inspired a community of practitioners who are building a sustainable lean culture. Learn More
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June 1 & 15, 2015
AME Events and Training
The following AME training sessions are being hosted by MEP Centers:
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June 1st: Improvement Kata / Coaching Kata, hosted by DVIRC in New York (learn more)
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June 15th: Communication Skills Training, hosted my DEMEP in Delaware (learn more).
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NEW! June 12-13, 2014
National Maker Faire
On June 12th-13th, 2015, makers from across the United States will convene in Washington, DC—to celebrate Making at the inaugural National Maker Faire. A collaboration between NationOfMakers.org*, the DC Government, the University of the District of Columbia, and Maker Media, the National Maker Faire is bringing inventors, tinkerers, and makers of all ages to our Nation’s capital. Occurring at the beginning of the “Week of Making” on June 12-13, 2015, the celebration gives curious, inventive people a place to share what they love to make.
Please feel free to register any of your MEP clients to attend or, even better, to exhibit! View event website.
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June 16-18, 2015
Tech Scouting and TDMI Workshop in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
The course provides MEP representatives with the instruction and tools needed to perform Technology Scouting and TDMI services for MEP clients. This training is part of a larger collaboration between NIST MEP and RTI International to bring RTI practitioners’ new market research and scouting skills to MEP field agents.
Led by practitioners and mentors of Tech Scouting and TDMI services, participants will work in both large and small groups to learn the full process and methodology for both services. The course approach is interactive and involves participatory activities to practice the core skills involved in promoting and performing both services including: expert interviewing, technology and market based research, intelligence and project organization and needs based analysis. The training includes demonstrations and exercises based on real-world examples of MEP projects in Tech Scouting and TDMI.
For questions, please contact Dave Cranmer (301-975-5753) or Caroline Ashley (919-541-6822).
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June 24, 2015
Buy America Transit Supply Chain Forum
Salt Lake City, Utah
NIST MEP, Utah MEP, and the Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration will be hosting an upcoming Buy America Transit Supply Chain Forum in Salt Lake City, on June 24, 2015.
The objective of the Transit Supply Chain Connectivity Forum is to bring large transit OEMs and smaller, qualified and interested U.S. manufacturers together in an effort to facilitate the use of a higher percentage of domestic suppliers in transit products and systems. The Forum will offer a venue for smaller manufacturers to learn what products are needed and find out more about investments they need to consider when entering the transit industry.
As part of the Forum, time will be allocated for ten-minute introductory, private meetings between participating OEMs and prospective suppliers. Participating suppliers can include both current transit industry suppliers, and potential new suppliers. These are not intended to be deal negotiation meetings – these are private introductory meetings to discuss the basics of participating in OEM supply chains.
This event will be held in conjunction with the American Transportation Association’s Rail Conference at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT.
Registration is $25. Please click here to register.
For more information about Buy America Transit Supply Chain, please visit the Next Generation Transportation Supply Chain page or contact Samm Bowman (samm@nist.gov| 301-975-5978).
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June 26, 2015
Manufacturing Appreciation Night at the Phillies
DVIRC and the Philadelphia Phillies would like to honor our region’s manufacturers. Please join us at Citizens Bank Park on June 26th as the Phillies take on the Washington Nationals. Learn More
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If you have questions, comments or would like to submit a e-blast item, send a message to mepeblast@nist.gov
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