NIST MEP E-blast: January 8, 2016

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 01/08/2016 05:22 PM EST

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

January 8, 2016 - View this as a web page - View eblast from December 18, 2015

In This Issue:

Notice of Intent to Fund New Manufacturing Innovation Institutes
MEP Staff Changes
Regional Forums for Round 4 State Competitions
MEP State Partnership Support Project
Vacancies Around the MEP System
MEP In the News
MEP Events

Notice of Intent to Fund New Manufacturing Innovation Institutes

On December 22, 2015 NIST issued a Notice of Intent to fund up to two institutes as part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). For its first institutes, the Commerce Department will provide up to a total of $70 million per institute over five to seven years. Commerce funding must be matched by private and other non-federal sources. The institutes are expected to become self-sustainable within the time period of the award. Learn More.

MEP Staff Changes

Kari Reidy was offered and accepted a year-long detail assignment in the NIST Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. Kari will be involved in discussions on legislation for important MEP and NIST-wide initiatives. She will be able to use her knowledge about MEP to educate others about the critical issues facing our program.

Starting February 1st, Zara Brunner will be the Acting Manager of the Communications team. As we work through transitioning everything, we will keep you up to date.

Please join us in congratulating Kari on her exciting news!

Regional Forums for Round 4 State Competitions

In Summer 2016, MEP intends to publish a funding announcement for MEP Centers in eleven (11) states. The states involved in the competition will be Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, Wyoming. Prior to the announcement, we will be conducting three regional forums in Washington, DC; Denver, CO and Chicago, IL to provide interested entities more information about the MEP program, the state competition, and answer any questions regarding the funding announcement. For more information on the regional forums, including dates, locations and agenda please visit the MEP Competition site.

MEP State Partnership Support Project

FFO Clarification

On December 18, 2015, NIST MEP announced the federal funding opportunity for organizations to support efforts to develop and enhance effective collaborative relationships with states and other stakeholders. These activities will advance the MEP’s network of relationships with state stakeholders and other partners to help MEP achieve its mission of improving productivity and technological performance in United States manufacturing.

Eligible applicants must be a U.S.-based for-profit or not-for-profit institution or organization. An eligible organization may work individually or may include proposed subawards to eligible organizations or proposed contracts with any other organization as part of the applicant’s proposal, effectively forming a team.

For more information about this funding opportunity, please read the full FFO.

Vacancies Around the MEP System

NIST MEP is seeking two Regional Managers:

Both Vacancies close on January 25, 2016.

Impact Washington is seeking an Account Executive in Eastern Washington. Learn More

MEP In the News

Durbin Announces $25 million in Federal Funding to Support Illinois Manufacturing
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the federal award for the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to help local manufacturers grow and compete. READ MORE >>

Stony Brook-LIFT bid wins $5M state contract
Stony Brook University and the Long Island Forum for Technology have been awarded a five-year funding deal to foster manufacturing in the region, with a focus on next-gen technologies and the life sciences. READ MORE >>

MEP Events

JANUARY

January 25-28, 2016: Applied Lean Leadership Conference (Event Link)

Tupelo, MS

This conference will feature internationally recognized and proven lean leaders who have what it takes to create and sustain a lean culture.

NEW!!! January 14, 2016: MEP Connect User Training (Webinar)

Registration is now open for three MEP Connect user training sessions. This training has been designed to provide you with instruction on how to use certain features such as setting alerts, document management, adding Calendar events and much more.

For question please contact Nicole at nicole.ausherman@nist.gov.

January 14, 2016: Webinar on Ultraviolet & Electron Beam Technologies

Energy curable technologies have grown tremendously since the beginning of the 1970s.
This webinar will offer an introduction to energy curing processes, the industries that use the technology, including its application in additive manufacturing and 3D printing, environmental and sustainability aspects, and the manufacturing potential.

Webinar Link | Meeting Number: 739 405 415 | Dial In: 866-218-2764 | Conference Code: 540 370 2466. Contact Ben Vickery with questions.

NEW!!! January 20, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. EST:

Hannover Messe: Know Before You Go (Webinar Link)

Join this free webinar to learn about the logistics of exhibiting at Hannover Messe, the details of the ins-and-outs of doing business in Germany, and the benefits of using Commercial Service B2B programs at the show.

January 27, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. EST: FuzeHub Webinar - How High Performance Computing Helped Companies Win SBIR/STTR Funding (Webinar Link)

Hear directly from manufacturers who have successfully won SBIR/STTR funding leveraging High Performance Computing for specific engineering applications from around New York State.

NEW!!! January 27, 2016 - March 24, 2016

Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) Level One Series. Rockford, IL (Event Link)

This four-day training series is well suited for business leaders interested in gaining an understanding of how the strategy of lead time will best serve their organizations or client organizations and learn techniques for implementing QRM.

Contact: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

NEW!!! January 29, 2016: MEP Supply Chain Marketing Update Webinar at 11:00A.M. EST

The SCO Marketing webinar will provide MEP center staff with an update on the train-the-trainer events and feedback, next steps for center promotion of SCO, and more.

RSVP: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

FEBRUARY

February 2-3, 2016: Supply Chain

Optimization Train the Trainer

The MEP SCO initiative is delivering hands-on learning sessions for MEP center staff at locations across the U.S.

Track One - Supply Chain Optimization Tools

Feb 2-3: Columbus, OH (FULL)

Track Two - Developing and Deploying a Supply Chain Strategy
Feb 9-11: Austin, TX

Contact: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

NEW!!! February 16-19, 2016: Tech Scouting and TDMI Workshop in Bloomington, Illinois (Event Link)

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.

For questions about the registration or the workshop, please contact Amanda Hawley (309-677-3933) or Caroline Ashley (919-541-6822).

February 17-19, 2016: 2nd Annual Toyota Kata Summit in Hollywood, FL

A special half day for interested MEP centers on exploring distinctive practices will be held on February 17th. In addition Mike Rother, author of Toyota Kata, has also extended an invitation to any MEP center representative to participate in the Kata Geek Meetup.

February 17th MEP Meeting Kata & Geek Meet-up Registration (complimentary)
2nd Annual Kata Summit Registration. Use promo code “MEP” for 20% off.

NEW!!! February 22-24, 2016: Food, Energy, and Water Nexus Workshop (Event Link)

University of Nebraska

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in collaboration with Georgia tech, Ohio State University, the National Science Foundation and industry partners is hosting a three-day multidisciplinary workshop titled Transformative Food Technologies to Enhance Sustainability in the FEWS Nexus. Space for the workshop is limited to 50 participants. Interested participants must apply for the limited spots. For questions contact Brian Lagas.

NEW!!! February 23-26, 2016: Transitioning to ISO 9001:2015 (Event Link)

Auburn, AL

The purpose of the training course is to present to the learner an overview of the ISO 9001:2015 standard while contrasting and comparing the 2015 standard to the previous versions.