NIST MEP E-Blast: July 17, 2015

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 07/17/2015 04:28 PM EDT

The very latest news and opportunities from the NIST MEP - Making an impact on U.S. Manufacturing

July 17, 2015 - View this as a web page - View eblast from July 10, 2015

Supply Chain Infographic

MEP’s is happy to announce the newest infographic "Supply Chains: Powering U.S. Manufacturing." Supply Chain flexibility, capability and responsiveness are important benefits for competitive advantage. This infographic shows how supply chains power U.S. Manufacturing by promoting a better flow of product from suppliers to customers resulting in reduced costs, improved quality, and shortened lead times. Click on the image to view and download the infographic.

For more information contact Zara Brunner.

September MEP Update Meeting

Registration is Now Open

The next MEP Update Meeting is scheduled for September 23, 2015 in Dallas, Texas at the Hyatt Regency. Registration for the meeting is open until September 16th. The registration cost is $329 per person. Please visit the MEP Update Meeting event page for registration and hotel information. The agenda is not finalized but will be made available shortly. In addition to the MEP Update Meeting there are two other events happening at the Hyatt Regency that may also be of interest:

ASMC / Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence Center Best Practice Sharing Conference – September 20 – 22, 2015: The Center Best Practice Sharing Conference will serve as a training venue for MEP Center leaders to share and receive best practices with MEP Center colleagues. For more information or to register, please visit the event site.

MEP Advisory Board Meeting – September 24, 2015: Open to all, no registration required. Agenda will be posted on the MEP Update Meeting site shortly.

If you have any questions about the MEP Update Meeting or Advisory Board Meeting, please contact Kari Reidy at kari.reidy@nist.gov or 301-975-4919.

ScoreCard Changes

Effective October 1, 2015 Centers will see a change in their sCOREcard. Diagnostic scoring for centers will no longer be done. The sCOREcard released in early October will reflect only Center Impact Metrics and the scores on the impact metrics will be scaled to 100. NIST MEP is considering changes to the sCOREcard and until these changes are finalized, the sCOREcard will reflect center impact metrics ONLY. If you have any questions, contact at Ken Voytek or on 301-975-4614.

Top Manufacturing Series

As part of the National Export initiative (NEI/NEXT) efforts, the International Trade Administration has released a new product line "Top Markets Series," which is a collection of 18 reports that project future export opportunities by sector. The reports are meant to help exporters compare opportunities across borders. Each is based on the Renewable Energy Top Markets Report. Exporters will find information on market dynamics, challenges to export competitiveness, and opportunities by subsector. Interested parties can either view full Top Markets Reports or can access individual country case studies or sector snapshots. In total, the Top Markets series includes 18 reports with over 150 pieces of individually-viewable market intelligence.

Each Top Markets Report will be available on http://www.trade.gov/topmarkets.

MEP In the News

Video: How the Genesis Movement and Workforce Alliance Enable Chicagoland Manufacturing Improvement

Through the Genesis Movement, IMEC, the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, and regional partners are supporting improvements of local manufacturing workforce and operations through their People, Processes, and Products.

WATCH VIDEO>>

New Mexico MEP is pleased to announce new Interim Center Director

New Mexico MEP is pleased to announce Jennifer Sinsabaugh as our new Interim Center Director. Jennifer has been with the organization since 2003, most recently serving as the Center Operations Director. As we welcome Jennifer to this new role we also thank the outgoing Center Director, Ron Burke. Ron served as the Center Director for the past six years. Ron will remain on staff for a while and continue to provide us with his vast manufacturing experience.

Volvo Trucks Takes Part in White House Supply Chain Innovation Initiative

Volvo took part in a White House supply chain innovation initiative July 9, highlighting the Virginia factory where its North American trucks are built. Due to the Commerce Department’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Volvo “develop a model to improve supply chain visibility.”

READ MORE >>

Oregon Recognized for Collaborative Effort to Modernize Manufacturing for the 21st Century

The State of Oregon, through its economic development arm, Business Oregon, Oregon MEP and in partnership with the State of Washington, has received a federal designation as one of 12 new communities under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative.

READ MORE >>

Manufacturing offers career choice, good pays

The Brainerd Dispatch interviewed Enterprise Minnesota’s president and CEO Bob Kill about the great career opportunities available at Minnesota manufacturing companies.

READ MORE >>

OMEP Client Success: Wildtime Foods revamps its business in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood

When Whit Hemphill and Brad Averill decided to move their company, Wildtime Foods, to a bigger location, they decided they should also take a long look at how they could improve the business and position themselves for the future.

READ MORE >>

MEP Events

July 21, 2015 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
Getting Involved in Manufacturing Day – College Educators Edition Webinar
Please share with your community partners and educator contacts. This webinar will help address questions on why and how community colleges, universities, and technical schools can get involved for MFG DAY. The webinar will also include presentations by MFG DAY educator champions: FLATE, Ogden-Weber Applied Technical College, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, each of which has had unique experiences participating in MFG DAY. Click here to register.

NEW!!! July 22, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. EDT
How TDMI Provided a Startup of LED Lighting Fixture Insights that Validated Entrance into a New Market
Hear from Louise Aitcheson, at the Center for Economic Growth describe her experience providing technology acceleration services to clients and how the TDMI service helped provide market insights in the compounding pharmacy market for a startup of overhead LED lighting fixtures.

Click here to register | Audio: 1(866) 244-8528 | Code: 646772.

For questions or to request a recording of the past web discussions, please contact Dave Cranmer (301-975-5753) or Caroline Ashley (919-541-6822).

July 28-30, 2015
Supply Chain Optimization Train the Trainer
The sessions will help to develop MEP Center staff for supply chain service delivery. Sessions will include the SCO Leadership Overview, Total Cost of Ownership, and Risk Management.

Date: July 28-30: Greenville, SC

Save-the-Date!

Nov 17-19: Portland, Oregon

Dec 8-10: Providence, Rhode Island

Contact: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

Other Events

July 24, 2015 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Skills on Purpose Webinar Series

The U.S. Department of Education invites you to participate in the 4th webinar of the series: Lessons from large manufacturing firms, How to assure future talent. The webinar will describe ways two large companies have found to engage with educators, including the challenges they faced, and possible paths moving forward.

Click here to Register

August 26, 2015

Implementing A Tier Meeting Process For Improved Communication Across the Enterprise

Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania

Click here to register or for more information.