NIST MEP E-Blast: Friday, October 26, 2012

Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Connectivity Forum

On October 24th the Northwest Industrial Resource Center hosted a successful Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Connectivity Forum in Clarion, Pennsylvania with 200 attendees. More than 140 were manufacturers who participated in speed networking with large rail equipment manufacturers such as GE Transportation, Siemens, ElectroMotive, Nippon Sharyo and others. The event featured remarks and rousing support for manufacturers in America from Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson and information from Chief Rolling Stock, Kevin Kesler and Senior Attorney, Linda Martin, of the Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. A big thank you to our MEP Center: NWIRC and to all those that were able to attend the forum.

Presentations by the Rail Original Equipment Manufacturers and Tier One suppliers provided at the forum will be posted on the NIST MEP's Next Generation Rail webpage soon. The webpage will also include the latest Supplier Scouting opportunities for Next Generation Rail. Please encourage your clients to visit the site to learn more about these exciting opportunities as well as sign up for updates on the initiative

Click here to subscribe to Next Generation Rail email updates.

For questions, please contact Dave Stieren (Dave.Stieren@nist.gov | 301-975-3197)

Back to Top 

The DOC Manufacturing Council is seeking new members

The Manufacturing Council serves as the principal private sector advisory committee to the Secretary of Commerce on the United States manufacturing sector. The Council is charged with ensuring regular communication between the federal government and the manufacturing sector, advising the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect United States manufacturing and provide a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems and to ensure that the United States remains the preeminent destination for investment in manufacturing throughout the world.

The Council consists of up to 25 private sector members, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to serve a two-year term. The Council is seeking a membership to represent a balanced cross section of the U.S. manufacturing industry in terms of industry sectors, geographic locations, demographics and company size. The Council has traditionally met quarterly, both in Washington, DC, and at sites outside the Capitol and has previously addressed a wide breadth of issues including, competitiveness, workforce, energy, exports, trade agreements, among others.

More information about the opportunity to apply is available in the Federal Register Notice available on the Council's website: www.trade.gov/manufacturingcouncil.

For questions, please contact Karen Lellock (Karen.Lellock@nist.gov | 301-975-4269)

Back to Top 

Discovering Manufacturing: The New Workforce
Following a recent visit to Chicago for NIST Director Patrick Gallagher, IMEC has published a new video highlighting the benefits of our public and private partnership, and the need for manufacturing innovation. The video also features Chicago-based sustainable manufacturer, PortionPac Chemical Corporation and one of Chicago's City Commissioners. View Video

I

Prototyping Resources – ORNL Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF)
This multidisciplinary research facility is dedicated to demonstration of next generation materials and manufacturing technologies for advancing the US industrial economy. The MDF enables R&D from concept to prototype in an open or secure environment for reducing risks and costs, accelerating innovation, optimizing energy efficiency, protecting IP and maximizing investments. High priority research activities include: additive mfg, carbon fiber and composites, lightweight metals processing, low-temperature material synthesis, roll-to-roll processing, and transient field processing.

Webinar Link
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. EST
Call in number: 1-866-469-3239
Access code: 736 123 437
Meeting Password: MEP

For more information, please contact Clara Asmail (Clara.Asmail@nist.gov | 301-975-2339)

TechHelp's host institution at Boise State is offering a new Masters Degree program in Business Operational Excellence
This 12 month program, developed and taught jointly by Kaizen Institute and Boise State University, builds skills in leadership, change management and process improvement for those in manufacturing. MEP personnel or their clients will gain expertise in process improvement techniques with an emphasis on Lean, Six Sigma and other skills necessary to achieve business excellence in any organization.

Program at a Glance:

• Accredited by the AACSB, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• Four, week-long sessions in Boise, Idaho USA
• One, week-long study mission in Japan
• $44,700 tuition

For more information contact Jim Peterston at 208.426.2182 or visit the Boise State website

Back to Top 

Manex Announces New “Made in Northern California” Program for Northern California’s Manufacturers The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) announced today the creation of a new “Made in Northern California” program for Northern California manufacturers. The goal of the online program is to showcase products made in the Golden State and highlight the contributions of the manufacturing sector... Read Article

Maine MEP Success Story FHC Inc., a client of Maine MEP, was honored for their commitment to innovation that has led them to becoming a global leader in the manufacture of equipment and precision instruments for the neuroscience community.... Read Article

MAGNET signs deals to promote business services with regional colleges/universities MAGNET held a press conference to announce a major cooperative agreement with four regional educational institutions—Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Lorain County Community College and the University of Akron. The institutions have all agreed to work with MAGNET’s Partnership for Regional Innovation Services for Manufacturers (PRISM) for the benefit of small- and medium-size manufacturers... Read Article

Executives learn in and outs of ISO certification Business Executives share their ISO certification experiences with a dozen manufacturing executives in Brooklyn Park, MN. The talk was sponsored by manufacturing consultancy Enterprise Minnesota... Read Article

Back to Top

Upcoming Events of Interest

This week's "Make it in America" Manufacturer of the Week is
Applied Concepts Inc., a client of TMAC located in Plano, Tx. Applied Concepts dba Stalker Radar is now the nation’s largest manufacturer of speed radar, law enforcement laser and lidar, speed/message trailers, radar detector equipment, sports radar, and radar sensors. Visit the NIST MEP public site to learn more about this company and how the center is helping them grow.

For more information about NIST MEP's "Make it in America" Manufacturer of the Week, please contact Karen Lellock (karen.lellock@nist.gov | 301-975-4269).

Back to Top