FFO: M-TACs Pilot Projects

RFI: M-TACs Pilot Projects

FFO: NIST AMTech Program

Wrap-up from Philadelphia Summer Regional Meeting

September MEP Update Meeting

SSTI Conference

Manufacturing Day Update

The Affordable Care Act 101 with SBA & Small Business Majority

What's Happening Around MEP

MEP in the NEWS

Calendar of Events

Make it in America Manufacturer of the Week!

View e-blast from July 19, 2013

On Tuesday, July 23, 2013, we announced a Federal Funding Opportunity to conduct approximately two (2) pilot projects that will inform future NIST investment leading to the development of a network of Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs).

NIST invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct approximately two (2) pilot projects that will inform future NIST investment leading to the development of a network of Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs). The emphasis of these pilots will be to demonstrate the conduct of technology transition and commercialization activities with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to foster their readiness to adopt and/or adapt advanced technologies into their manufacturing processes and products. The pilots will specifically focus on addressing the technical and business challenges encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as they attempt to integrate, adopt, transition, and commercialize both existing and emerging product and process technologies into their operations to help them grow and compete within manufacturing supply chains as innovative, value-adding components of our nation’s economy.

To view the full announcement, click here. Additional information on the proposal process is available in the notice of Federal Funding Opportunity posted at www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 2013-NIST-MEP-MTAC-01.

Due Dates: Electronic applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, September 23, 2013. Paper applications must be received by NIST no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, September 23, 2013. Applications received after the respective deadline will not be reviewed or considered. The approximate start date for awards under this FFO is expected to be March 2014.

An informational webinar for applicants who are considering to apply to this opportunity will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 2:30 P.M. EDT.

For further information or to register for the August 13th webinar, please contact Diane Henderson at diane.henderson@nist.gov | (301) 975-5105.

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In conjunction with the Federal Funding Opportunity, we are still seeking comments related to the creation of New Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs). You feedback and ideas is important to us, and your input is critical to help the MEP Program’s mission to strengthen U.S. Manufacturing competitiveness. Because of the importance of this feedback, we have extended the deadline for response until Monday, August 5th.

Full details of the RFI can be found on the MEP website at www.nist/gov/mep/rfi-mtac.

For questions regarding this Request for Information, please contact Diane Henderson @ diane.henderson@nist.gov.

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NIST announced a Federal Funding Opportunity for the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) Program. This competition will establish new or strengthen existing industry-driven consortia in planning research that address high-priority challenges impeding the growth of advanced manufacturing in the United States. NIST's anticipates awarding $4 million in two-year planning grants in fiscal year 2013. Grants will range between about $250,000 and $500,000, subject to the availability of funds.

NIST solicits applications from eligible applicants to establish and strengthen new and existing industry-led consortia that are focused on developing advanced technologies and solutions to :

• Address major technological and related barriers that inhibit the growth of advanced manufacturing in the U.S. ;
• Identify and prioritize research projects supporting long - term industrial research needs and a range of activities including but not limited to creating new or updating existing industry - led, shared - vision technology roadmaps for the development of technologies underpinning next - generation and/or transformational innovations; or
• Undertake other activities designed to establish and strengthen new and existing industry - led, multi-partner consortia that catalyze technology infrastructure and American excellence in advanced manufacturing

Full details of the solicitation, including eligibility requirements, selection criteria, legal requirements and the mechanism for submitting proposals is available in the notice of Federal Funding Opportunity posted at www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 2013-NIST-AMTECH-01.

Two webinars are scheduled for the month of August. Participants are required to register in advance. The events will offer guidance on the AMTech Program and preparing proposals, and will provide an opportunity to answer questions from the public about the program. To register, click on the webinar dates below.

August 15, 2013 at 2:00 - 3:30 P.M. EDT
August 20, 2013 at 2:00 - 3:30 P.M. EDT

For more information about AMTech and this funding opportunity, visit NIST website at www.nist.gov/ampo or send an email to amtech@nist.gov.

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Thanks to all who joined us in Philadelphia, PA this week at the second summer regional meeting. We had 111 attendees participate in this meeting. Over the two days we heard from a number of NIST MEP staff, centers, and outside industry experts. On the first day we had the opportunity to hear from acting director, Phil Singerman, on updates and changes within the MEP program. We then moved into a discussion about the current and future federal funding opportunities and MEP’s role in the various multi-agency awards. In addition, we heard from Neal Orringer, the chief strategist on manufacturing policy from the Department of Commerce, about the administration’s manufacturing agenda and the role that MEP can play. We continued after lunch by hearing from a panel of center directors who provided their perspective on the multi-agency awards and the success and challenges that they've faced. We closed out the day with a discussion on center project data, and specifically, the characteristics of high and low performing centers as well as some breakout sessions on MEP's information system, MEIS.

Day two was full of center and industry led panel presentations including one on how to build long term engagements with your clients as well as one focused on how to change your center’s culture so that everyone is capable of having growth conversations within the organization. The afternoon was spent focused on the current and future state of the medical device industry and the opportunity it presents to centers.

All of the presentations are now posted and available on MEIS. We also plan to share all of the questions that were received in Philadelphia and Denver with their corresponding answers. Those will be shared to the system within the next couple of weeks. If you attended this week’s meeting and have not yet had a chance to complete the evaluation form, please click here to provide us with your feedback.

If you have any questions about his meeting, please contact Kari Reidy at kari.reidy@nist.gov or 301-975-4919.

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MEP's fall update meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon this September 18-19, 2013. The meeting will be held at the Red Lion Hotel on the River. MEP registration site and hotel room block will be set up and available for you next week. The registration for this meeting will be $290/person.

Hotel information
Red Lion On The River
909 N Hayden Island Drive , Portland, OR, 97217

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Lellock at karen.lellock@nist.gov or 301-975-4269.

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NIST MEP is planning the fall MEP System Update meeting to immediately follow SSTI’s 17th Annual Conference, Dynamic Innovation Ecosystems: Bringing It All Together, scheduled for September 15-17 in Portland, Oregon. SSTI’s conference is the nation’s largest gathering of those working to encourage economic growth through science, technology and innovation, typically drawing over 250 attendees from across the nation. This year’s conference will focus not only on the key elements required for a dynamic innovation ecosystem—higher education, commercializing research, innovation capital, workforce, and manufacturing—but also on how to bring those elements together. It is a two-day event with three plenary sessions, sixteen breakout sessions and three workshops, including a manufacturing track that will be of particular interest to MEP’ers. View Conference Brochure.

MEP center attendees will receive a discounted registration fee of $550. To receive the reduced rate please register at SSTI's registration page and select the "All Others $700" Conference Registration fee, complete and submit the form. On the next screen, enter the promo code: MEP2013 (case sensitive). The reduced rate should be reflected and registrants will then have the opportunity to enter their credit card information. For more information, visit SSTI's website at www.ssticonference.org. For questions, please contact Mark Troppe at mark.troppe@nist.gov | (301) 975-5745

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Edge Factor, a Manufacturing Day endorser, has just released a video highlighting the reason why we need Manufacturing Day and is asking viewers to "be the impact." Check it out...

Please visit the MFG Day registration page to register any events your clients/partners may have planned. Remember our goal this year is to have 500 open houses. Some MEP centers have already signed up to be endorsers of Manufacturing day. If you're interested in becoming an endorser, please email info@mfgday.com.

For more information, please contact Zara Brunner (zara.brunner@nist.gov, 301-975-2001) or Mark Schmit (mark.schmit@nist.gov, 301-975-3255).

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As part of a robust education and outreach effort, the Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority are launching the Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinar series. Small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and what it means for their company and employees, including insurance reforms, the small business health care tax credit, the new health insurance marketplaces, and employer shared responsibility provisions. Each week, SBA representatives will walk through the key pieces of the law so that small business owners can understand the facts and make the best, informed decisions they can about providing health insurance for their employees.

The Affordable Care Act 101 will take place every Thursday from now through the opening of the marketplaces in October. Below are the registration links for the next three presentations. Registration for later webinars will be available shortly.

• Thursday, August 1 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
• Thursday, August 8 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
• Thursday, August 15 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register

For more information, please contact Chris Van Es at Christopher.vanes@sba.gov.

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DEMEP Vacancy Announcement: Executive Director
The Delaware Technical Community College is seeking a highly qualified individual to become the Executive Director for the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP). The incumbent will be responsible for the administrative direction, strategy, contract management and operational results for DEMEP. In addition, the incumbent will supervise administrative support staff and Manufacturing Extension Partnership Specialist to ensure that small and medium-size Delaware manufacturers are provided with appropriate technical assistance to develop and improve their operations.

For more information, or to apply for this position, please visit the vacancy announcement at www.dtcc.edu/hr and search for the position "Stanton: DEMEP Executive Director"

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• Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance Awards First Grant to New Collaboration Between Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center and ManufacturingWorks. The grant and partnership were presented to funders, manufacturers and community leaders at WaterSaver’s manufacturing plant in Chicago, in conjunction with World Business Chicago (WBC). “Strategic collaboration among organizations is critical to ensure the success of our region’s manufacturers,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Read Article.

• CMTC Client Success: Louroe Electronics Succeeds with Business Growth Services. Southern California manufacturers receiving consulting services from California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® are continuing to take advantage of their ”Growth Services” to increase sales. One particular manufacturer is Louroe Electronics located in Van Nuys, CA. They manufacture audio monitoring technology used in law enforcement, security, health care, entertainment, hospitality, and retail industries. Read Article

• Read the Latest from the

  Our Manufacturing Moment and the Continuing Manufacturing Renaissance
  On July 25th we attended the Brookings Institution event “Manufacturing U.S. Prosperity: A Policy Discussion.” This event included a keynote speech on the innovation and economic competitiveness of U.S. Manufacturing by Gene Sperling, Director of the President’s National Economic Council. The event concluded with a responsive panel discussion with thought leaders from The Brookings Institution, MIT, McKinsey Global Institute, and NorTech. Read Blog

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

July 29, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. EDT
Toyota Kata Webinar: What Does Success Look Like?
For over 15 years, NIST MEP has promoted Lean to assist U.S. manufacturers. Early on, it was much about the tools and, over time, the realization came that this “point solution” approach alone was not enough. To sustain Continuous Improvement gains, and have real cultural change, the “people” side of the equation needs to be included in equal measure and will require an Enterprise Transformation focused on Leadership, Culture and Tools. In this regard, the Toyota Kata components of Improvement and Coaching are a means for helping assure overall success by providing employees and executives with the means to develop the habits necessary to move progressively forward.

• Begin to understand that Toyota Kata is about changing habits and that proper habits are the key to PDCAs (or Fail Fast, Fail Cheap)
• Hear how Toyota Kata is being utilized to affect successful and sustained continuous improvement and transform cultures
• Learn about upcoming Toyota Kata events featuring MEP Center staff

Webinar Link
Meeting Password: Katajuly2013!@
Dial in number: 1-855-272-0056
Meeting code: 837 899 6276
Contact: Brian Lagas | (301)975-5043

July 30- October 8, 2013
Go Global Webinar Series
In celebration of World Trade Month in May, U.S. Department of Commerce will launch a webinar series illustrating how U.S. businesses can expand into the global marketplace and reach the 95 percent of consumers outside the United States.The “Go Global” Webinar Series draws from trade expertise across the Administration to equip companies with the tools they need to start exporting or increase sales to new markets.

The following webinars will be held at 1:00PM EDT on the dates specified below:

• July 30 & August 13, 2013: Trade Financing
• August 27, 2013: Documentation and shipping
• September 10 & 24, 2013: Understanding export regulations
• October 8, 2013: Avoiding and resolving problems

If you or your clients are interested in participating in any of the following complimentary webinars, please register at the U.S. Census Educational Resources Website. For questions, please contact Kari Reidy | (301) 975-4919.

July 31, 2013 from 1:00 - 2:30 P.M. EDT
Patent Webinar Series: The 411 on Do It Yourself Patenting
Given the high costs around intellectual property procurement this webinar is focused on providing some basic tools of the trade when pursuing DIY intellectual property protection. Hear from experienced individuals who have endeavored in the art of “Pro Se” and learn when to seek the guidance and help of legal expertise. Presenting the webinar are Brian Gildea, Executive Director of IP & Licensing BU Technology Department, and Elizabeth Doughtery, Director of Inventor Education for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Click here to register. If you have any questions, please contact: Clara Asmail | (301) 975-2339.

NEW!! August 8, 2013 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. CDT
Marketing through Social Media: Understanding and Leveraging Social Media Information
UW-Stout, Northwest Wisconsin MEP, will be hosting a one day workshop for business professional interested in dynamic tools and techniques to understand and leverage social media information and increase their competitive edge in marketing. Participants will learn strategies relating to the foundations of social listening, social media measurement, leveraging consumer-intelligence data, and context-driven strategies for real-world situations. Registration cost is $225. Click here to register. If you have any questions, please contact: Joni Geroux, | (715) 232-5270.

August 19- 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.

• 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 | (301) 975-4919.

UPDATE!! August 21, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. EDT
Business Continuity Suite Webinar
Join us on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, at 2:00pm (EST) for a 90 minute webinar to learn how MEP Centers are utilizing the Business Continuity Planning (BCP) Suite of tools developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to successfully coach clients in developing business continuity strategies. Participants will learn about:

• The importance of Business Continuity Planning
• How MEP Centers can utilize BCP tools
• MEP Practitioner’s perspective on using the tools for client engagements as well as internally to develop, implement, and maintain MEP Center plans

Click here to register. If you have any questions, please contact: Samm Bowman | (301)975-5978.

To download BCP Suite of tools visit the BCP page on the MEP's website or if you would like a CD of the software contact Samm Bowman (301) 975-5978.

August 22 & 23, 2013
Alabama E3 Sustainability Conference
Join the Alabama Technology Network on August 23 & 24, for the Alabama E3 Sustainability Conference for August 23 & 24 in Montgomery, AL. The conference will incorporate sustainability in manufacturing training sessions, informational workshops, and other activities to assist attendees in their efforts to reduce wastes in order to increase productivity and profitability for their businesses. In addition to the workshops, the conference will also include exhibitors, a tour of the Coca-Cola plant in Montgomery, and an awards ceremony to recognize companies for outstanding achievement in the three categories of economy, energy, and environment.

For more information and to register, visit the event's website at www.alabamaE3.org/conference.

For questions, please contact Dana Stone at dstone@atn.org.

NEW!! September 10 - 11, 2013
Controlling Organizational Costs Through Safety & Medical Management By: Ernie Richardson
Companies lose as much as $60 billion in decreased productivity each year due to workplace injury and safety issues, in addition to the personal impacts of a workplace injury to the employee.

This course will help the learner set the foundation for safety & medical cost prevention and control. Participants will learn how to look at costs and cost drivers, especially multiple - year costs such as worker’s compensation. Current systems are seeing greater than 15% increases in safety & medical costs, but by using the techniques presented in this training seminar, companies can expect long - term decreases in costs while experiencing improvement in productivity, attendance, and worker morale

Location: Decatur, Alabama
Event Brochure
Cost: $750

To register,click here. For questions, please contact Hank Czarnecki at LeanHank@auburn.edu.

September 18, 2013 @ 2:00P.M. EDT
Energy Management Resources for Manufacturers From ENERGY STAR Webinar
Most of us recognize ENERGY STAR as the symbol of energy efficiency. But, did you know ENERGY STAR has tools and resources that you can use to help manufacturers manage energy? Join us for a webinar on September 18, 2013 at 2:00 pm Eastern to learn about these free tools, how manufacturers are making use of them, and how you can take advantage of them to help other manufacturers cost-effectively improve the energy efficiency of their operations.

Date and Time: September 18, 2013 @ 2:00PM EDT
Webinar Link
Password: EnergyStar1$
Dial in number: 1 (855) 272-0056
Conference Code: 253 241 1643

For questions about Energy Star, please contact Betsy Dutrow (Dutrow.Elizabeth@epa.gov | 202-343-9061. For questions about this upcoming webinar, please contact Ben Vickery (ben.vickery@nist.gov | 301-975-2954).

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