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UPDATE: State Competition (3) Informational Webinar: For participants interested in learning more about the State Competition, MEP will hold two webinars on February 23, 2016 at 3:00 PM EST and March 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM EST. Previously we announced a webinar for March 2nd; that one was rescheduled to March 4th. To rsvp, please provide your name and organization to Diane Henderson at mepffo@nist.gov. Full details about the competition can be found on the MEP competition website.
- MEP Center Board and Advisory Board Meeting (03.01.16) This meeting will help promote communication and distinctive practice sharing between the Center Boards as well as initiate dialogue with the National MEP Advisory Board. View event Link
- Marketing Working Group Meeting (03.17.16) The meeting, hosted by TMAC, will be the first face to face meeting the group has scheduled to discuss the following items: Center Marketing Structure, Branding, Client Development, Content Marketing, and Best Practices. RSVP and view event link.
In the coming weeks, Industry Week and NIST MEP will coordinate on a new “Small Manufacturer Successes” feature. We will work with NIST Public Affairs to provide stories to the Editor-in-Chief to run every other week. If you would like one of your success stories which you’ve already submitted to NIST MEP to be considered for publication, please reach out to the client involved for approval, provide a high resolution photo (of the CEO/owner, facility, or even an interesting product), and identify which story you want to use. The editor may make a few changes before publishing the story.
This is a great opportunity for the MEP system and our manufacturers. Thank you to MAGNET for making the connection for us! For more information or questions, please contact Zara Brunner.
On Tuesday February 9th, the White House released a cybersecurity action plan in an effort to enhance cybersecurity awareness and protections, protect privacy, maintain public safety as well as economic and national security, and empower Americans to take better control of their digital security. As part of the approach, the Small Business Administration, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Energy, and NIST MEP have partnered "to offer cybersecurity training to reach small businesses and their stakeholders through 68 SBA district office, 9 MEP centers, and other regional networks across the country". View Fact Sheet
The MEP centers indicated on the fact sheet are 9 Centers - CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, OH, and TX- that are currently participating in a Digital Manufacturing Pilot operated by the Digital Manufacturing Design Innovation, an institute of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The work that MEP is doing in the Digital manufacturing pilot will be the foundation for the cybersecurity training that MEP will provide for small manufacturers. The 9 Centers in the pilot will be the first to deploy the training. For more information contact Dave Stieren or Samm Bowman.
Consider joining Carroll Thomas and Mark Troppe at the National Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Manufacturers Summit 2016, on March 24, 2016 in Atlanta Georgia. A national manufacturing industry-specific event exclusively for MBE manufacturers, supply chain decision makers, and stakeholders with a focus on innovation, technology, and business-to-business matchmaking has never existed until now. Connect with Original Equipment Manufacturers, corporations, supply chain and purchasing executives, manufacturers, federal partners, universities, and others for a one-of-a-kind summit that will offer:
- Access to Technology Transfer Opportunities
- Knowledge of the Latest Trends and Innovation in Manufacturing
- Connections with Large Manufacturing Enterprises and Supply Chain Networks
- Development of Short and Long-term Partnerships
In conjunction with America Makes, the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing technology, NIST MEP, and Penn State’s Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition are sending an open invitation to SMEs to present ideas for how Additive Manufacturing can revolutionize their business. The challenge will be focused on concepts that utilize additive manufacturing for improving a current product or developing a new product. Although the Challenge will focus on additive manufacturing of metals, applications involving polymer printing will also be considered depending upon the impact of improving or developing a product through additive manufacturing. The top five submissions will be awarded and given access to Penn State and America Makes’ world class facilities and research personnel in order to validate, demonstrate, and showcase their ideas. *The SME Challenge proposal should include the regional NIST MEP as an integral member of the proposal team.
A webinar about the challenge was conducted on Tuesday, February 9th. To view the recording, click here. For more information about the challenge, click here. For questions, contact Clara Asmail
NIST MEP is in the process of migrating our existing public website (nist.gov/mep) to a new web content management platform called Drupal. As part of that process, we want to hear from the MEP system. What are top three things you come to our public website for? And what is the one thing you need and/or is missing on our public site? Please provide feedback and comments by February 19th to Nicole Ausherman.
- Catalyst Connection's "Explore the New Manufacturing Video Contest" helps give young people a new perspective on the exciting career opportunities that exist now. Explore the New Manufacturing Student Video Contest is a creative way to share peer-to-peer videos online to promote manufacturing and possible career opportunities through the perspective of the up and coming generation. Watch and vote for your favorite videos.
- Video of the Week: MassMEP's Ted Bauer was recently featured on the TV show MassFactor, he provided an overview of manufacturing and workforce in Massachusetts.
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FEBRUARY
NEW!!! February 16, 2016. Training: MEP Employee Orientation Part 2 (Webinar Link)
Part II will present a more in-depth look into the initiatives and strategy of the MEP program.
Password: Employee1234!
Contact: Wiza Lequin
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)
NEW!!! February 17, 2016 at 2:00 PM EST. Webinar: Cybersecurity Best Practices.
NIST MEP in collaboration with several federal agencies, and the White House Office has developed a Cybersecurity Best Practices Webinar for Small Businesses, Federal Staff and partners. Dates are below:
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.
February 24-25, 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.
NEW!!! February 25, 2016. Training: MEP Connect User Training (Registration Link)
Registration is now open for the make-up session of MEP Connect user training that was canceled due to the snow. Session 1 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. Contact Nicole Ausherman for questions.
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MARCH
March 1, 2015. MEP Meeting: Center Board Meeting (Event Link)
NIST MEP will be holding a meeting with center board members to promote communication and distinctive practice sharing between the Center Boards as well as initiate dialogue with the National MEP Advisory Board. Following the joint session, the National Board will be meeting to hold their one of three required board meetings for the year.
NEW!!! March 2-4, 2016. Conference: Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (Event Link)
This Conference is the largest gathering of Southwest Alaskan’s, and the center of America’s commercial fishing industry cluster. The SWAMC Annual Conference is an important venue to meet stakeholders who manage manufacturing companies, communities that support supply chains and policy makers that define the rules of the road.
March 8, 2016. Training: AME People Centric Leadership Fundamentals (Event Link)
March 7-11, 2016. Training: Alabama ISO 901: 2015 Lead Auditor Training (Event Link)
March 14, 2016. Summit: Oregon Manufacturers Summit (Event Link)
NEW!!! March 14-15, 2016. Workshop: AME Mastering Lean Product Development. Westfield, MA (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. Conference: MANTEC's Business Growth Conference - Smart Manufacturing: The Technology Revolution. (Event Link)
This fourth annual conference incorporates Business Growth, Workforce, CI, Supply Chain and expands on Technology. The robots are coming!
March 17, 2016. Summit: Ohio Food Industry (Event Link)
APRIL
April 26-28, 2016. Training Course: Preventive Controls Short Course (Event Link)
Iowa State University 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 event is also scheduled for June 13-15, 2016.
MAY
May 17-18, 2016. MEP Meeting: The next MEP Update Meeting is scheduled for May 17-18, 2016, the MEP Advisory Board Meeting will follow on May 19, 2016. The location and agendas for these meetings are TBD. Stay tuned for more information. Contact Samm Bowman for questions.
NEW!!! May 16-18, 2016. Summit: RadTech 2016, Chicago, IL (Event Link)
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