Manufacturing Innovation Blog

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Manufacturing Innovation Blog

Diversity Professional Engineer training and discussing in Robot Development Plant

Infographic: Training: Responding to the Skills Gap

January 12, 2023

Katie Rapp

There aren’t enough workers to meet U.S. manufacturers’ needs. A 2021 survey by the National Association of Manufacturers found that 80% of companies say their

Engineers discussing at railing in car plant

When in Crisis, Manufacturers Can Look to Kata

January 5, 2023

Sarah Burlingame

There is more to lean manufacturing than improving a few processes. Sustainable lean success requires a companywide culture of continuous daily improvement

Robotic Arm Putting The Cover Of Gift Box On The Conveyor Belt

Support Manufacturers With Tasty and Pampering Holiday Gifts

December 22, 2022

Tom Williams

It’s that time of year again – the season when you start looking for holiday gifting ideas. Have you considered checking out your local manufacturers? They have

Engineer Showing Apprentice How To Use CNC Tool Making Machine

5 Things We Learned in Germany

December 14, 2022

Matt Fieldman

I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz around the German apprenticeship system – but does it really live up to the hype? That’s what a recent mission of 16 workforce

A Lean Management Road Map to Build a More Proactive Game Plan

December 9, 2022

Sue Via

Research has shown that during times of economic uncertainty, companies that find a balance between reducing the resources they need to survive and investing in

Video: Heroes of American Manufacturing – BrightView Technologies

December 2, 2022

Katie Rapp

A new video in the Heroes of American Manufacturing series features BrightView Technologies, a Durham, North Carolina, manufacturer. What makes BrightView a

3 Lessons Manufacturers Can Learn From NASCAR Racing

November 29, 2022

Matt Fieldman

“In motor sports, you get your quarterly report every weekend.” —Roger Penske The NASCAR pit stop – it’s exciting, intense, and can mean the difference between

Father and kids enjoying coding and electronics at home

STEM Appreciation Day – Celebrate With Four STEM-Inspired Toys and Activities

November 21, 2022

Andrew Peterson

November 8 was STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Appreciation Day – subjects that we believe should be emphasized year round. This

Grain to Glass: Distillery Showcases Everything Great About West Virginia

November 16, 2022

Andrew Nobleman

With MEP Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), the MEP National Network™ has published more

Technical Industrial Engineer controling robotics with monitoring system software

Demands for Increased Visibility Are Impacting Cybersecurity Preparedness

November 9, 2022

Nathan Sable

Digitization and connectivity are having a huge impact on more than just your manufacturing operations and ability to monetize data. Your vulnerabilities also

Carpentry workers shaking hands in woodworking studio

How to Improve Your New Hire Retention

November 2, 2022

Lisa Pustelak

There is an occurrence so commonplace among manufacturers that there’s a name for it: “runners.” Runners are the new hires for entry-level jobs, often in their

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About this blog

Manufacturing Innovation, the blog of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), is a resource for manufacturers, industry experts and the public on key U.S. manufacturing topics. There are articles for those looking to dive into new strategies emerging in manufacturing as well as useful information on tools and opportunities for manufacturers.

The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST.

If you have any questions about our blog, please contact us at mfg [at] nist.gov.