NIST MEP E-blast: January 22, 2016

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 01/22/2016 10:56 AM EST

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

January 22, 2016 - View this as a web page - View eblast from January 15, 2016

In This Issue:
 

Kick-off Meeting with MEP Center Recipients of Round 2 Competition

Round 2This week NIST MEP staff held a kick-off meeting with the 10 center award recipients from the Round 2 competition. The meeting was held on the NIST campus with 37 staff from the 10 MEP centers. In addition to center staff there were also a number of attendees from NIST MEP, the NIST Grants Management Division, as well as other visitors from the NIST Laboratories. The purpose of this meeting was to provide Center Directors and key staff an opportunity for training, education and networking. In addition to the training and preparation for their new award, there was also a discussion with the new NIST Associate Director for Laboratory Programs, Dr. Kent Rochford about opportunities to engage with the NIST labs. We wrapped up yesterday afternoon with tours of three NIST lab facilities including Additive Manufacturing, Cyber Security and Robotics.

 
As we move forward with future competitions, this model will continue to be used as a way to engage all new awardees. If there are any questions about this kick-off meeting or future plans, please contact Diane Henderson at diane.henderson@nist.gov or 301-975-5105.

Cybersecurity Partnerships

NIST MEP is collaborating with several federal agencies, led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and including the Federal Trade Commission, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Energy, as well as NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory, to develop Cyber 101 for Small Businesses training for small U.S. businesses. Your small manufacturing clients are just as susceptible to cyberattacks as the large OEMs that they serve.

We currently have four Cyber 101 for Small Businesses Webinars scheduled: February 17, February 23, March 2, and March 8. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks, including info about cybersecurity training also being developed in conjunction with this collaboration that is specific to the unique needs of small manufacturers. In the meantime click here to review the webinar "10 Cybersecurity Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make - Tips from the Federal Trade Commission".

MEP in the News

  • Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Hosts Successful Third Annual Economic Summit. IMEC's David Boulay gives keynote discussing the manufacturing skills gap and state of the industry in Illinois. Read More
  • GENEDGE announces growth acceleration program. Read More

Photo of the Week: Phillip Singerman, NIST Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services, was on hand for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between FloridaMakes, part of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), a National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence. The partnership is designed to support the current and next generation of skilled workers for the state’s growing high-tech manufacturing sector.

Florida Makes

In the photo attached (seated): Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes, and Dr. Marilyn Barger, Principal Investigator and Executive Director of FLATE, and (standing) Phil Singerman, NIST Associate Director, and Bob Provitola, Division Vice President Manufacturing & Repair Global Collaborations, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc. who is also Chairman of Florida’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and serves on FLATE’s National Visiting Committee.

Vacancies Around the MEP System

  • Tennessee MEP is seeking two Solutions Consultants for the Northeast and Southern Middle Tennessee Regions. Vacancies close on January 29, 2016.
  • NIST MEP is seeking two Regional Managers for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Region. Vacancies close on January 25, 2016.
  • Impact Washington is seeking an Account Executive in Eastern Washington. Learn More

MEP Events

JANUARY

January 25, 2016. Webinar: MEP Connect User Training.

Learn how to use certain features on MEP Connect.

For question please contact Nicole Ausherman.

January 25-28, 2016. Conference: Applied Lean Leadership in Tupelo, MS (Event Link)

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

January 27, 2016 at 3:00 P.M. EST. Webinar: Marketing Working Group Webinar - Brand Engagement (Webinar Link)

Fred and Elliot of MMTC will talk about their current brand engagement and how they are using market research to build a brand strategy.

January 27, 2016 - March 24, 2016.

Training Series: Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) Level One in Rockford, IL  (Event Link)

Gain an understanding of how the strategy of lead time will best serve organizations for implementing QRM.

Contact: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

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

Get updated on the train-the-trainer events and feedback, next steps for center promotion and more.

RSVP: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

FEBRUARY

NEW!!! February 9, 2016. Training: NIST MEP Webinar: MEP Employee Orientation Part I (Webinar Link)

Part I provides a high-level synopsis of the MEP program, geared towards new members of the system, those who recently joined the MEP center, and for those who need a refresher.

Contact Wiza Lequin for questions.

February 9-11, 2016. Training: 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 - Full

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

Contact: Amy Fitzgerald for more information.

NEW!!! February 11, 2016. Webinar: Food Industry Supply Chain Series (Event Link)

This workshop, hosted by the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT), will focus on a deeper dive into food defense, including how to defend your supply chain against willful adulteration, as well as neglect and ignorance, reducing the overall probability for occurrences. Later, a new supply chain assessment tool will be previewed, which is designed to uncover strengths, gaps, and opportunities, providing a better understanding of your supply chain.

NEW!!! February 16, 2016. Training: NIST MEP Webinar: MEP Employee Orientation Part II (Webinar Link)

Part II of the webinar series will provide a more in-depth look on the mission and strategy of the MEP program. Part II MEP Overview Topics will include: MEP Evolution, Strategy, Challenges, Advisory Board, Services & Initiatives, Leadership Programs, and Competitions.

Contact Wiza Lequin for questions.

February 16-19, 2016. Training: 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.

For questions or more information, please contact Amanda Hawley (309-677-3933) or Caroline Ashley (919-541-6822).

February 17, 2016. Webinar: Hannover Messe - Your Global Customers in One Venue (Event Link)

February 17-19, 2016. Summit: Toyota Kata in Hollywood, FL

A special half day for interested MEP centers on exploring distinctive practices. Use promo code “MEP” for 20% off.

February 22-24, 2016: Workshop: Transformative Food Technologies to Enhance Sustainability in the FEWS Nexus (Event Link)

This is a three-day multidisciplinary food, energy and water workshop. For questions contact Brian Lagas.

February 23-26, 2016. Training: Transitioning to ISO 9001:2015 in Auburn, AL (Event Link)

Learn about the ISO 9001:2015 standard, and how it compares to previous versions.

NEW!!! February 24-56, 2016. Conference: Wisconsin's 2016 Manufacturing Matters (Event Link)

This year’s conference features: Governor Walker (invited), a keynote address by Palermo’s Pizza CEO Giacomo Fallucca, and 18 break-out sessions in six different tracks led by industry experts and leading Wisconsin Manufacturers. There will also be a brief lunch presentation on the newly minted “Made in Wisconsin” program.

MARCH

NEW!!! March 1, 2016. MEP Center Board Member Distinctive Practice Meeting in Washington, DC.

NIST MEP will be holding a meeting with center board members as the first effort in a series of activities to promote communication and distinctive practice sharing between the Center Boards as well as initiate dialogue with the National MEP Advisory Board. For more information click here. If Center Board members, Center Directors or other staff are interested in attending the meetings on March 1st, please send names of attendees to Monica Claussen at Monica.claussen@nist.gov.

March 14, 2016. Summit: Oregon Manufacturers Summit (Event Link)

March 16, 2016. Webinar: Hannover Messee - 5 Trade Shows in One (Event Link)

March 16-18, 2016. Training: Lean Bronze Review & Exam (Event Link)

March 17, 2016. Summit: Ohio Food Industry (Event Link)

APRIL

 

NEW!!! April 24-56, 2016. Course: Preventive Controls Short Course (Event Link)

Iowa State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Department of Animal Science is hosting a three day Basic Preventive Controls training is designed for people in the food industry desiring to understand and be trained in the Food Safety system for manufacturing safe food. This course will meet the FDA FSMA regulations as an Approved Course under Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance (FSPCA).
twitter link linkedin link blog link youtube link facebook link