2013 Summer Regional Meeting Registration

System Webcast

Supplier Scouting Opportunities

Federal Funding Opportunity

New Manufacturing Innovation Institutes

What NIST MEP is Reading

MEP in the NEWS

Calendar of Events

Make it in America Manufacturer of the Week!

View eblast from May 3, 2013

This summer, NIST MEP will be hosting two regional meetings for center leadership and other relevant staff to discuss the status of the MEP system, changes in manufacturing, and how best to position the MEP to provide these services going forward. These meetings provide MEP with the opportunity to ensure center staff are educated and aware of the latest tools, topics, and goals of the MEP system.

The first meeting will be held June 25th and 26th in Denver, CO in conjunction with the MEP Advisory Board Meeting, which will be on June 24th. The second meeting will be held July 23rd and 24th in Philadelphia, PA. Based on locations we assume that the Pacific Northwest, Southwest and Midwest centers will attend the Denver meeting, and the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast centers will attend in Philadelphia. However, both events are open to everyone.

Some of the topics that will be covered at these meetings include:

1. Overview of the NIST MEP Strategic Plan
2. Update on the MEP System Collaboratory
3. Center and Project Impact Analysis
4. Market Industry Analysis & Outlook
5. Panel Discussion: Engaging a CEO in Transformational Dialog

In order to register for these meetings, please click the link below for the appropriate meeting. The event page will have additional information including meeting logistics, registration, draft agenda, etc. The registration fee for each meeting will be $250/person.

June 25-26, 2013 – Denver, CO (register here)
July 23-24, 2013 – Philadelphia, PA (register here)

If you have any questions, please contact Kari Reidy at Kari.reidy@nist.gov| (301) 975-4919

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Join us on June 12, 2013 at 3:00 PM EDT for the MEP system webcast. Topics to be discussed include the MEP FY14 budget, federal funding opportunities, and information on the upcoming regional meetings.

Webinar Link
Password: Welcome301$6
Meeting Number: 736 361 638
Contact: Karen Lellock  

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This week NIST MEP received 3 new Supplier Scouting Opportunities from our partners at the U.S. Department of Transportation. We have prepared an Item Opportunity Synopsis and created an MEP Connect Group for each of these items. Center submissions for these items are due to NIST MEP by Friday, May 24, 2013

Summary of MEP’s Supplier Scouting process using MEP Connect: Each new Scouting Opportunity is being posted to MEP Connect as a new MEP Connect Group. Our national network of MEP Scouts will be invited to join each new MEP Connect Group to participate in scouting for these opportunities. MEP Scouts MUST join each new MEP Connect Group to view the Item Opportunity Synopsis and submit scouting results to NIST MEP.

Please contact Dave Stieren at Dave.Stieren@nist.gov|(301) 975-3197 or Samm Bowman at Samm.Bowman@nist.gov|(301) 975-5978 if you have any questions. 

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The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA.gov) at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is gearing up to announce a funding opportunity that may interest MEP centers; it is aimed at mitigating the impact of defense spending changes on communities, workers, and suppliers in the defense industry supply chain. OEA is planning to release the announcement in late May.

Assistance provided by DOD under the award will support regions in organizing, planning and carrying out economic adjustment programs that seek to stimulate and guide economic development adjustment efforts in a community or region. Adequately identifying and addressing the myriad of possibilities will take a coordinated effort among MEP Centers, OEA grantees, State, regional, and local economic development organizations; the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers as well as local SBA District offices; and U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration grantees, including Workforce Investment Boards and/or One Stop Centers.

We will keep you posted as more details become available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Mark Schmit at mark.schmit@nist.gov (301) 975-3255.

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Yesterday the Obama Administration announced a competition for three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. The competition is for $200M in federal funding from various agencies, including Defense, Energy, Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. The funding is for the creation of two new Institutes focused on "Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation" which will be lead by the Defense Department; the Energy Department will lead the other Intitute on "Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing." Defense and Energy will lead the selection process with review from multipe agencies. Federal funds will be matched by industry and other sources. For more information, please read the official release.

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25 Recommendations for the Reauthorization of the 2013 America COMPETES Act
Stephen Ezell and Robert Atkinson, ITIF

ITIF authors Stephen Ezell and Robert Atkinson offer a series of reforms designed to revamp the U.S. innovation system and spur additional investment in science and technology. They propose a new approach to transform the U.S. innovation system in three key areas including: (1) spurring innovation and technology commercialization; (2) introducing federal institutional reforms to spur innovation; and (3) enhancing STEM education. Of the 25 recommendations proposed, twelve require no new investment, and another four can be done with less than $10 million in new investment. Among the recommendations is increased funding for the MEP program to $175 million in FY 2014 and $200 million in FY 2015.

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• "Who I Went to When I Needed Help" features Quality Filters success in working with MEP's Alabama Technology Network to diversify its offerings and enter a new market with a Lysol branded product. Read Article

• New Online Toolkit Offers Must-Have Training Materials for U.S. Companies NC State University Industrial Extension Services is partnering to provide a unique offering to help meet the upcoming December 1, 2013 deadline for OSHA Hazard Communication compliance, which affects manufacturers everywhere. Read More

• Enterprise Minnesota's "State of Manufacturing" survey results are featured in several publications and received a lot of media coverage: Read Article 1,See list of media coverage

• Massachusetts MEP launches a "virtual incubator" The initiative aims to expedite development of manufacturing start ups, offering advice and conseling to entrepreneurs looking to locate in the state or considering opening doors there. Read Article

• "How One Fabricator Transformed its High-Product-Mix Assembly": This cover story features Nevada Industry Excellece and its client VSR. Read Article

• Read the Latest from the
  

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 Send us your News Clips! Email us at mepeblast@nist.gov

May - December 13, 2013
MEP Innovation Services / Training – 2013
The Black Belt training schedule for 2013 is listed below. If you would like to register, please email Kari Reidy with the name of the individual(s) you are registering and their proposed dates. Because NIST MEP is making a significant investment in the cost of this training we do expect that those registering are committed to this program and agree to complete their Black Belt certification within the 1 year time requirement.

Please read the updated policies, procedures and FAQs that are posted on MEIS. This document explains the changes and updated policies to the Black Belt certification program and will continue to be updated with the latest FAQs.

• May 13 - 17 (FULL)
• June 9 - 13 (location: University of Maine - open to all)
• July 22 - 26 (FULL
• August 19 - 23; September 23 - 27; October 21 - 25; November 11 - 15; December 9 - 13

If you have any questions about the policies, about Black Belt certification, or to schedule training, please contact Kari Reidy at Kari.reidy@nist.gov| (301) 975-4919

May 17, 2013
Process Excellence & Innovation Conference
NEPIRC and The Consortium for Process Excellence and Innovation is pleased to announce the first ever, one day Process Excellence and Innovation Conference designed to help Consortium member companies and manufacturers in northeastern Pennsylvania enhance their learning of Continuous Improvement and Innovation. All sessions, except for our keynote address (Session A) are 50 minutes in length. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Click here for more information and to register

May 17, 2013
U.S. Commercial Service Trade Winds – Asia
Seoul, Korea and the dynamic cities of Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo and Manila offer global sales potential for U.S. businesses in a range of industry sectors. Learn how to increase profits and overcome barriers in the growing Asia-Pacific region and network with the region's leading industry and government officials and experienced U.S. and global companies. Meet one-on-one with top Asia business experts from the U.S. Embassies and Consulates from the region for the latest trade leads and market entry strategies. Find a partner or customer through screened business-to-business meetings in Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

Info: Register your interest to receive a complimentary market assessment at exportgov. For additional information, contact tradewindsasia@trade.gov, Leslie.drake@trade.gov or judy.kornfeld@trade.gov.

May 17- June 11, 2013 2:00p.m. - 3:30p.m. EST
Lean Product Development Webinar Series
NIST MEP will host 6 webinars and you are encouraged to commit to attend all 6 sessions. Presenter, Ron Mascitelli, will provide detailed coaching corresponding to specific chapters from the “Mastering Lean Product Development” textbook and recommend you procure a copy of the book in advance and read the appropriate chapters prior to each webinar. Copies of the book are available through the following link. www.techper.com/books

The schedule for the webinar series are listed below. Each webinar will start at 2:00pm EST and end at 3:30 p.m. EST.

• Friday, April 5 - Session 1: Building a Business Case Brief and Prioritizing Development Projects
• Friday, April 19 - Session 2: Managing Development Resources in a Multi-Project Environment
• Friday, May 3 - Session 3: Visual Workflow Management / Visual Project Boards
• Friday, May 17 - Session 4: Defining Market Requirements for a New Product
• Friday, May 31 - Session 5: Visual Project Planning and Risk Management
• Tuesday, June 11th - Session 6: LPD Sales process and implementation

For additional information, please contact Brian Lagas at Brian.Lagas@nist.gov, 301-975-5043

May 23, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. EST
Additive Manufacturing: Industrial Applications
Two Additive Manufacturing (AM) Equipment Manufacturers, EOS and ExOne, will discuss how their machines are designed for industrial applications. They'll present on types of applications and industries that are already using AM and specifications for final product including materials, dimensions, repeatability, mechanical properties, build strategies and so forth.

Webinar Link
Password: Additivem@n1
Meeting Number: 736 268 559
Contact: Clara Asmail

May 23, 2013 from 10 am - 11:30 am Mountatin Time
NEW!!! Webinar: Food Safety Modernization Act Part II, Preventative Controls
Jeff Kronenberg of TechHelp and the University of Idaho School of Food Safety will host the webinar. The cost is $35 ($17 for government employees) and will feature Charles Breen, District Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Seattle District. Learn details of the new proposed FDA regulation, Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food. It will also prepare you to provide informed feedback to the FDA during the comment period which will end September 16, 2013. For information or registration, visit the site. Those looking for more in-depth information are invited to join Jeff & Charles at our FSMA Workshop in Twin Falls, Idaho on June 25, 2013.