After a full and open competition and a rigorous review process, NIST MEP is excited to announce that Carroll A. Thomas has been selected to serve as the next MEP Director. Her selection is pending Department of Commerce (DoC) approval.

Carroll Thomas is currently the Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). The SBDC is analogous to the MEP program; $114 million in federal funds support at least half of funding provided to 63 host organizations with over 4,200 expert business assistance counselors located at over 950 service centers in all 50 states and five U.S. territories. Prior to assuming her position at the SBA, Ms. Thomas worked at NIST-MEP from January 2000 to November 2012. Ms. Thomas will officially rejoin the NIST MEP program in the Spring of 2015 – official date to be announced shortly.

To read more about Carroll Thomas, click here.

If you have any questions, please contact Kari Reidy or 301-975-4919.

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If your center will be participating in Manufacturing Day this year, please sign up as an endorser so that you get the recognition on the MFG Day website. There’s a new web form this year to make it even easier for you. Click here to access it. Thanks to the close to 10 centers who have already signed up!

For questions, please contact Zara Brunner or Mark Schmit.

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NIST MEP along with 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.

This Forum will bring large transit OEMs and smaller, qualified and interested U.S. manufacturers together in an effort to facilitate reaching 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.

The event will be held in conjunction with the American Transportation Association’s (APTA) Rail Conference at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. More information including registration will be provided shortly

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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This week, NIST MEP initiated a new MEP Supplier Scouting effort to find domestic manufacturers to become suppliers to Amtrak for various items associated with their ongoing procurement of new high speed rail passenger vehicles. 

This effort is in response to a “non-availability” waiver that Amtrak requested to the U.S. Dept of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (DOT FRA).  Though MEP's Next Generation Transit Supplier Scouting, MEP is helping FRA meet their Buy American requirements. MEP is seeking to find domestic suppliers for following items:  

• main power transformers,
• braking systems,
• aluminum car body shells
• integrated crash energy management systems. 

To participate in this supplier scouting effort for these items, please visit the MEP Connect Suppler Scouting page to view and discuss these opportunities, as well as submit information about potential matching manufacturers. Contact Samm Bowman for more information or if you need to be added to MEP Connect's Supplier Scouting team.

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We're just released the newest infographic "Making it in America". An information packed poster of the opportunities and pathways of the many faces of manufacturing careers. Post in on your website, use it to support presentations, and share it with your partners in education and economic development. Let us know what you think, and share with us how you are using it.

For more information contact Mary Ann Pacelli, mary.pacelli@nist.gov or Zara Brunner, zahraha.brunner@nist.gov.

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The Manufacturing Institute in partnership with Deloitte, have just released their 2015 Skills Gap in U.S Manufacturing: 2015 and Beyond report that once again highlights the mismatch between skill in demand by manufacturer and the skills of the available workforce. The new study reinforces the challenges manufacturers have been facing over the last few years in recruiting and retaining qualified employees, specifically in Skilled Production and Engineering/Research positions. The report presents multiple approaches manufacturers should consider to improve their status in the recruitment and talent development arena – plan now for your needs, consider internal development, get involved in the community, communicate your value as an employer, internally and externally. Download Report

Additionally, The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte also produced an updated public perception index "Overwhelming Support: U.S. public opinions on the manufacturing Industry," measuring public opinion around issues affecting manufacturing. Public support for manufacturing industry is still strong, even greater than a few years ago. The report takes a closer look at important key takeaways, one being—parents are still not sure about encouraging their children to pursue careers in manufacturing. Download Report

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• Nebraska MEP seeks an Industrial Liaison Officer. Vacancy Details
• CIRAS is hiring project managers with expertise in manufacturing engineering, food safety systems, and marketing/strategy. Vacancy Details

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NIST MEP is presenting an orientation webinar series for those interested in learning about the MEP program.  The webinar will be a two-part series: MEP Basics and MEP, an in-depth view.  MEP Basics will provide you with a general overview of the program, including information about the MEP mission, vision and strategic goals. MEP, an in-depth view will take a closer look at the MEP program and focus on services and initiatives currently offered, the latest strategic efforts, priorities, and legislative requirements. The two part series will be offered March 10th and April 1st. Below are the webinar details:

March 10, 2015 - Part 1 MEP Basics | Webinar Link | Password: Welcome1234! | Call in Number: 1-866-2182764 | Conference Code: 801 896 4070 

April 1, 2015 - Part II MEP, an In-depth view | Webinar Link | Password: Welcome1234! | Call in Number: 1-866-2182764 | Conference Code: 801 896 4070

For questions or assistance, please contact Phill Wadsworth at Phillip.wadsworth@nist.gov or Wiza Lequin at wiza.lequin@nist.gov

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The Oregon Manufacturers’ Summit is an annual event that celebrates and empowers the state’s makers of prosperity. The 2015 Summit will serve as a platform for Oregon manufacturers, partners, and policymakers to share and discuss industry best practices, glean insights from innovative and successful firms across the state, and build a powerful public interest in manufacturing. For more information, click here.

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This one day conference covers it all- top line, bottom line, people, processes and systems. Management teams will benefit by attending a variety of the 15 sessions, 2 keynote presentations and 4 workshops to position the business for growth. You build your agenda to meet your needs. For more information, please click here.

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During this webinar, Annette Able of Able Clouds Advisors will help Center's outline the business processes and functions (e.g. NIST Reporting) that should be integrated into their Salesforce.com system. This first-hand experience stems from AbeCloud's 20+ months of working with Missouri Enterprise. Topics that will be covered include:

• Storing planned, measuring actual, and reporting actual Project Impact Measures to NIST
• Identifying, facilitating, and reporting PIP and CIF details to NIST quarter over quarter
• Managing project costs, including Purchase Requisitions, Timesheets, Expenses and Subcontracted Services
• Targeting NIST-qualified manufacturers in your territory for marketing and sales activities
• Tracking the ROI of individual marketing campaigns based on actual sales (i.e. Closed Won Opportunities)
• Monitoring Account Manager/Client Development performance metrics against set expectations.

Webinar Details: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 from 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. EDT | Webinar Link | Call in Number: 1-866-218-2764 | Conference Code: 801 896 4070 | Contact Phill Wadsworth

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The webinar will provide an overview of a system which is aimed at impacting every part of the company - from CEO to the shop floor operator, marketing manager, to the accounting clerk. It promotes a view of the company in terms of value streams that will maximize profits and cash. The system, commonly referred to as “Lean Accounting”, is a specialized way of viewing the costs and values streams. It is less about financial statements and more about an enhanced business strategy.

Hear from Jerry Solomon, author of the Shingo Award winning book, Who’s Counting?, a highly acclaimed business novel focusing on the interaction of the manufacturing and accounting functions during a Lean transformation.  Mr. Solomon recently served as the Vice President, MarquipWardUnited, the Western Hemisphere’s leading packaging automation and converting group.

Webinar Details: Link | Password: Business1234! | Call in Number: 1-866-2182764 | Conference Code: 801 896 4070

For more details contact: Brian Lagas (brian.lagas@nist.gov) or Dileep Thatte (dileep.thatte@nist.gov) 

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