Manufacturing Innovation Blog

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Manufacturing Innovation Blog

When Your Lean Supply Chains Feel Out of Control, Focus on What You Can Control

September 1, 2022

Gene Kaschak

Many manufacturers who adopted lean principles by applying a “just-in-time” (JIT) mindset to inventory of materials and parts have been burned, sometimes badly

The concept of misunderstanding, a barrier in relations, denial of society.

8 Reasons You’re Struggling with Your Workforce

August 25, 2022

Matt Fieldman

You’ve heard the questions from your manufacturing colleagues: “Where are all the good people these days?” “Why don’t people want to work anymore?” “Why can’t

Coworkers celebrating some good news in a factory

Five Leadership Essentials for Lean Success

August 23, 2022

Lisa Weis

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) defines people-centric leadership (PCL) as a leadership approach that seeks to create a culture in which

World map with logistic network distribution on background.

How Smaller Manufacturers Can Develop Risk Management Strategies for Their Supply Chains

August 11, 2022

Katie Rapp

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light a stark reality about current supply chains. As Nissan Motor Co.’s Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta points out, “The

Four Ways That Engaging With Schools Benefits Your Talent Stream

August 5, 2022

Scott Dietz

The manufacturing community has long struggled with finding skilled workers, citing, among other things, the misperceptions that manufacturing jobs underpay

Infographic: Reshoring and the Pandemic – Bringing Manufacturing Back to America

July 29, 2022

Katie Rapp

A new infographic, Reshoring and the Pandemic: Bringing Manufacturing Back to America, delves into various factors related to reshoring supply chains and shines

Lighting Up Manufacturing Workforce Development: The America Works FireWorks Conference Recap

July 21, 2022

Matt Fieldman

Workforce “FireWorks” were on full display in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 22 and 23! We all know and love fireworks; who hasn’t “ooh’ed” and “aah’ed” as they light

Male programmer using laptop analyzing and developing in various information on futuristic virtual interface screen.

NASA and The MEP National Network Collaborate to Advance Manufacturing

July 6, 2022

Kim Pinckney

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) is, as you might expect from the name, always looking for

multi colored hands reaching towards a star for a success in business concept

Manufacturers: It’s Time to Move from Operational Excellence to Inclusive Excellence

June 29, 2022

Matt Fieldman

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd two years ago, many organizations and companies made commitments to racial and social justice. Diversity, equity and

Businessman holding and showing the best quality assurance with golden five stars for guarantee product and ISO service concept.

Capturing New Markets

June 23, 2022

Enterprise Minnesota

Galaxy Precision, Inc. is a family-owned precision machine shop with capabilities in CNC milling, CNC turning, and Swiss machining located in Albany, Minnesota

Shot of two young businesswomen shaking hands in a modern office

Rethinking Old Hiring Rules to Achieve a Diverse Workforce

June 14, 2022

Aarin B. Clemons and Lindsey Brickle

Many manufacturers have struggled for years to hire qualified workers. The outlook is for more of the same. With an aging workforce, emerging new technologies

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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.