NIST Administrative Manual, Subchapter 9.02
Transmittal Date - 4/20/05

MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (48)

MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (48):  Strengthens the global competitiveness of small-and-medium-sized U.S. manufacturers by developing and maintaining, as a joint venture with state and local governments, a nationwide network of manufacturing extension centers which provides technical assistance to manufacturers in adopting new, more advance manufacturing technologies and techniques and business best manufacturing practices; assists state governments in planning for the development of state-wide industrial extension services which deliver technical and business assistance to smaller manufacturers in coordination with other existing services available in public, private, and academic sectors; provides joint funding with state and local governments for the creation and maintenance of extension services which focus on and respond to the specific needs of small-and-medium-sized manufacturing firms; develops and manages programs which respond to the specific needs of state- and local-based extension services and supports their integration as a nationwide delivery system; creates and maintains partnerships across the Federal Government and within industry to develop and integrate new and existing resources which are complementary to the national delivery system and which allow these entities to utilize the broad delivery system as a means of access to small-and-medium-sized manufacturing firms in support of their mission objectives; facilitates the business processes for all legislatively mandated review evaluations of funded extension services; and develops strategies and executes  programs which explore innovative, alternative approaches for improving small manufacturers competitiveness and which capitalize on opportunities for the network of centers and its component service entities to realize greater revenues from private-sector investment in its services.

DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (480): Responsible for strategic planning, directing, implementing, and evaluating the programs of the operating unit, with particular emphasis on the functions outlined below:

Program Policy and Legislative Liaison Functions

Due to the high level of congressional interest in the program, the function will provide rapid, accurate responses to numerous questions from a wide variety of sources.  Coordinates activities with the NIST Congressional and Legislative Affairs (CLA); provides MEPP liaison to CLA for congressional relations support.  This function also serves as liaison to a number of Congressional Committees and their staffs in the communication of information on pending issues as legislative positions are developed, and analyzes program policies and legislation for management and key stakeholders.

Administration, Finance, Human Resources, and Communication Functions

This function provides top-level management of the MEPP budget and financial matters, human resources communication with key stakeholders and investors, and other program administration matters.  Prepares budget submissions on behalf of the program.  Responds to Administration and Congressional questions and formulates responses.  Tracks overall program expenditures against plan, reconciles accounts, and manages the automated financial tracking for the organization.  Responsible for promoting awareness of the MEPP network to small-and-medium-sized manufacturers, MEPP stakeholders, and internal resources; develops and supports the MEPP corporate communication strategy; establishes and supports internal communication mechanisms; develops and oversees an MEPP communication strategy with the NIST Public and Business Affairs Office (PBAO); provides MEPP liaison to the PBAO for media relations support; supports congressional and state stakeholder relations that advance the understanding of MEPP’s contribution; provides communications to state partners and extension services on current and relevant news and information concerning activity within NIST, MEPP, or throughout the nationwide system.  Manages the full range of human resources activities for the MEPP, including position development, hiring, performance management, organizational design and development, awards and recognition, and other related activities.

Research and Analysis Functions

Identifies and manages a research agenda for the organization that looks at current and future trends of manufacturing with particular focus on the needs of the SME market at the industrial sector and sub-sector levels to support the process of forecasting technological changes and their implications; emerging markets – and market drivers – to determine products and services that small manufacturers will value and demand; technology development and deployment methods at the function and industrial and sector levels in order to increase adoption rates by SMEs.  Analyzes macro-and micro-industry factors that affect the rate of technology adoption to provide focus to MEPP structure, products, and services delivery; stimulates products and service delivery innovation by illuminating existing alternate technology assistance methods (including those employed by other nations) and by catalyzing creation of new products and service delivery mechanisms relevant to changing industry needs; establishes and maintains significant strategic alliances in the area of research and analysis with Federal agencies, manufacturing related research organization, industry associations, and professional associations that support the SME sector.  Manages evaluation research activities that involve a comprehensive understanding and knowledge about evaluation policy, survey strategy studies and methodologies including the collection and evaluation of data, including all aspects of productivity activities and analysis, the Government Productivity and Results Act, and manufacturing extension centers and small-and-medium-sized manufacturing firms.  In addition, the function supports the management of data collection, evaluation, and research related to MEPP results and impacts to effectively marshal the limited MEPP evaluation resources.

Information Technology Infrastructure Functions

Supports MEPP’s business operations through application of information technology (IT) systems and activities.  Works with the NIST Information Technology Laboratory to establish information system standards for MEPP.  Directs the design and development of the MEPP information systems to support internal MEPP operations, information exchange with centers, manufacturers and other stakeholders, and data collection and analysis of center client impacts.  Manages the maintenance and retirement of information systems including hardware/software and data, as well as IT security requirements for MEPP.

CENTER OPERATIONS OFFICE (486): Administers all MEPP’s business processes with respect to cooperative agreements and contracts; monitors the performance progress, and compliance of the recipient of MEPP center funding; performs legislatively mandated reviews of MEPP centers to evaluate performance; manages center data reporting and client survey processes; and provides primary interface between MEPP and center financial managers.  Takes corrective action on problematic centers which are inefficiently or ineffectively providing services to smaller manufacturing firms; ensures and participates in the development and implementation of each center’s performance-based operating plans; assures sound customer relationship management between MEPP and all center staff and partners; assures comprehensive evaluation of the MEPP centers and the national system of centers; provides actionable insights, center benchmarking, and assistance in determining regional impacts; serves as MEPP liaison to state governors, executive branch officials and legislators and maintains close relationships with state and local partners to ensure their interests are being mutually served.  Executes business plans for the division; serves as COTR for cooperative agreements, contracts, interagency agreements, and joint project agreements relevant to system operations; provides primary interface between MEPP and the grants and procurement offices for those efforts; monitors, reconciles, and reports on project/division financial status.

SYSTEMS OPERATIONS OFFICE (487): Provides leadership for the MEPP system with respect to establishing an effective and efficient national service delivery system and supporting infrastructure.  Utilizes the collective knowledge, skills and service delivery capacity of the MEPP centers in concert with strategic partners to generate supplier development opportunities that reach a greater number of SMEs per Federal dollar than does the existing center business models, thereby providing greater opportunities for MEPP centers to transform SMEs into high performance, globally competitive manufacturers.  Develops strategic alliances and partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and trade associations; ensures effective management of resulting national opportunities.  Specifically targets trade associations with aligned missions, supply chains of OEMs, and those companies with multiple manufacturing facilities.  Supports national initiatives by developing knowledge management and service delivery strategies and providing support for the integration of MEPP centers into a nationwide service delivery system; serves as technical consultant to centers to assist them to achieve integration into a nationwide system; provides technical and business expertise to centers with regard to business development; defines and assists centers to transform to high performance system models; identifies and deploys efficient “universal” solutions (including tools, techniques, and training) to address national opportunities.  Executes business plans for the division; serves as COTR for cooperative agreements, contracts, interagency agreements, and joint project agreements relevant to system operations; provides primary interface between MEPP and the grants and procurement offices for those efforts; monitors, reconciles, and reports on project/division financial status.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (488): Provides technical leadership for the MEPP system with respect to developing new approaches and techniques for transforming SMEs into high performance enterprises; establishes and maintains significant strategic alliances with other Federal agencies, manufacturing related research organizations, industry associations, and professional associations that support the SME sector; catalyzes the creation of new products and service delivery mechanisms relevant to the needs of other agency partnerships and changing industry needs.  Develops new tools, processes, and service delivery models to improve the effectiveness of technology deployment from NIST and other Federal laboratories; analyzes macro- and micro-industry factors that affect the rate of technology adoption to provide focus to MEPP technology deployment program design; develops strategic alliances with other Federal agencies with manufacturing research and development programs to position the MEPP as a partner in technology deployment; catalyzes the creation of products and services to increase the innovation capacity and rapid new product development capabilities of SMEs.  Analyzes the current and future needs of the SME market at the industrial sector and sub-sector level to support the process of forecasting technological changes and their implications; conducts industry analyses and studies emerging process and supply chain technologies to determine products and services that will be required to assist small manufacturers in being globally competitive.  Executes business plans for the division; serves as COTR for cooperative agreements, contracts, interagency agreements, and joint project agreements relevant to technology development; provides primary interface between MEPP and the grants and procurement offices for those efforts; monitors, reconciles, and reports on project/division financial status.

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5/2008