MEP UPDATES
New State Profile One Pagers
The state profile one pagers found on the NIST MEP website have been updated with FY17 Economic Impacts. If you notice any out-of-date information, please make those changes in MEIS. If you need a logo updated on your state profile one pager or if you have questions about updating your information, please email Jennifer.rosa@nist.gov. Additionally, we are making tweaks to the template layout in support of the MEP National Network brand. All of the current information will still be on the template, but the layout will change slightly. As we get closer to the final layout design, we will let you know before the changes go live on the MEP website.
MEP State News | Highlights of February 2018
Table of Contents
MEP National Network Brand Handbook Revised
The Brand Handbook has been revised and uploaded to the MEP Connect site here.
It includes the new client
impacts in the boilerplate description about the Network, changes to the
Facts section, and other minor updates. Please replace your web copy or
use this messaging in future collateral and communications.
NIST Announces 2018 SBIR Funding Opportunity
NIST is now accepting proposals for its 2018 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards. The competitive program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federally funded research and development opportunities that have the potential for commercialization. Applications for Phase I will be accepted through April 4, 2018.
MEP National Network FY17 Positive Impacts for Manufacturers Released
In 2017, the Network interacted directly or through their partners with over 26,000 manufacturers. Based on results from a third-party survey, clients from across the country reported that the assistance they received helped to create and retain more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs in 2017, up from nearly 87,000 in 2016. Clients also retained more than $12 billion in sales, up from $9.3 billion the previous year and realized more than $1.7 billion in cost savings, an increase of $.3 billion from 2016. See the newly updated MEP National Network Profile here.
Centers can use this opportunity to share the positive impacts in your states. A draft press release can be found here on MEP Connect, along with tips on where you can pull the state impact data for FY17 in MEIS.
Mark Your Calendar, NIST MEP Meetings 2018
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June 13, 2018 | MEP Advisory Board Meeting - Arlington, Texas
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September 11-12, 2018* | Advisory Board/National Network Update (followed by FORME Center Best Practice Conference)
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2019 Meetings to follow Similar Pattern* | Two Board Meetings, Late February/Early March & Mid-June, followed by the MEP National Summit in Mid-September 2019.
*Dates tentative pending securing location/facility
 MEP Advisory Board with Center Board Participation
March 7, 2018 | NIST MEP will host the MEP Advisory Board Meeting, March 7th 9:00 – 4:30 p.m. (times subject to change.) The meeting will be held at the Reagan Building in downtown D.C. The morning will include opportunities for the Network's Center Board leadership and the Advisory Board to interact and network with planned activities.
Agenda is now available on the MEP Website: NIST MEP Website here. (Updates will be made as they become available.)
Registration is complimentary but required. Registration requests/questions should be emailed to Cheryl Gendron.
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EVENTS
The National Science and Technology Council, Subcommittee on Advanced Manufacturing (NSTC SAM) is in the process of developing a National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing to improve Government coordination and provide long-term guidance for Federal programs and activities in support of United States manufacturing competitiveness, including advanced manufacturing research and development over the next five to ten years.
Input is requested from the public, including stakeholders from industry, academia, and non-profits active in advanced manufacturing, that may be used as input into developing the National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing.
For more information, please see the Request for Information (RFI), deadline to respond is March 7, 2018.
Winning the War for Talent in the Age of Skilled Labor Shortage
March 14, 2018 | Manufacturers are learning rapidly that access to talent is the new industry-wide growth restraint to business. Adam Himoff, CEO of Xemplar Workforce Solutions will share FOUR "superemployer" secret weapons that will allow your company to beat the skilled labor shortage (and your competition!).
 Spring Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
March 19, 2018 | TMAC’s Lean Six Sigma Program provides a systematic approach to dramatically improve cost, quality, and delivery by combining the strengths of today’s two most powerful business initiatives – Lean and Six Sigma – into one integrated program. The DMAIC process provides the overarching structure for project management, helping insure solutions are sustainable.
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 How to Effectively Communicate Your MEP Center Brand and Mission
March 29, 2018 | Join Steve Brand from CMTC as he shares what's working for the California MEP Center. Brought to you by the MEP National Network Marketing Steering Committee.
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 Digital Manufacturing & Design (DM&D) Train-the-Trainer Workshop - Session #2
April 17-18, 2018 | Nominate your center staff to be a part of an upcoming 2-day, Train-the-Trainer Workshop at DMDII in Chicago. Be part of a cohort of MEP Centers equipped with deeper knowledge in Digital Manufacturing and Design (DM&D) methodology and applications for SMM clients.
Your staff will benefit from this workshop by:
- Having the ability to gain meaningful insight on a range of DM&D technologies, including the Digital Product Lifecycle and Digital Thread,
- Gaining access to DM&D technology assessment tool to determine an SMMs readiness,
- Learning practical, actionable solutions that can be immediately adopted into client's operations without implementing a disruptive change program.
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 NIST Industry Forum: Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Prognostics for Manufacturing Operations: Moving from "React and Repair" to "Predict and Prevent"
May 7-11, 2018, at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD| The event will bring together leaders in industry, government, and academia to discuss the current trends, successes, challenges, and needs with respect to advanced monitoring, diagnostic, and prognostic technologies to enhance maintenance and control strategies within manufacturing operations. Discussions will include the current and emerging capabilities and challenges with respect to designing, deploying, verifying, and validating monitoring, diagnostic, and prognostic technologies for manufacturing operations including those involving interconnected, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
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 The State of Manufacturing 2018® - Statewide Survey Release Event
May 17, 2018 | The State of Manufacturing®, now in its 10th year, is the most comprehensive survey of Minnesota's manufacturers. It reveals their perceptions and opinions on the economy and other major issues impacting business.
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