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MEP National Network

NIST Awards Emergency Funding to Help Manufacturers with Hurricane Relief Efforts

May 8, 2018

Carroll Thomas, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), knows something about the

Export Plan in Hand, Hydroheater Maker Triples Its Business

May 3, 2018

This article originally appeared on Industry Week . Guest blog post by Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing

A Smoother Future with Help from CIRAS

April 26, 2018

Simply Soothing is a small, woman-owned business in rural Columbus Junction, Iowa that produces natural products with emphasis on high quality at a reasonable

Five Surprising Factoids About Metal Additive Manufacturing

April 20, 2018

Recently, we learned five things that surprised us about additive manufacturing for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). These insights came from a

Business Growth Collaborative Program Accelerates Success

April 17, 2018

RP Abrasives, located in Rochester, New Hampshire, began in 1996 as a business serving manufacturers needing metal deburring and surface finishing. Looking for

Success Story: 3D Printing Project Yields Quick Results

April 13, 2018

Based in Jackson, Mississippi, United Plastic Molders (UPM) is a full-service custom injection molding and tooling provider with complete design and machining

How One Company is Closing the Skills Gap Through a Competency-Based Apprenticeship Program

April 11, 2018

This article originally appeared on Industry Week . Guest blog post by Michael Kelleher, Executive Director of the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Success Story: Improvement Effort Reduces Changeover Time

April 6, 2018

Brighton NC Machine Corporation is an industry leader in machining, grinding, and assembly services in Brighton, Michigan. Established in 1965, Brighton NC was

Success Story: Device for Patients with Dysphagia Gains FDA Approval

March 30, 2018

Ampcare develops therapeutic neuromuscular electrical stimulation technologies, including the Ampcare ESP™ (Effective Swallowing Protocol), an innovative

Success Story: Lean Transformation Helps Growing Company Keep Up With Demand

March 22, 2018

Dakota Bodies develops and builds truck bodies for the service and industrial markets. Based in Watertown, South Dakota, the company has about 250 employees

Updates from MEP Center Staff Embedded in Manufacturing USA Institutes

March 16, 2018

From sensors, biofabrication and advanced materials to optics and photonics, there is no shortage of exciting new advancements coming out of the Manufacturing

Success Story: Workforce Training Boosts Sales for Growing Aerospace Business

March 14, 2018

Kennebec Technologies is a full-service, high-precision manufacturing company. With a focus on complex, high-value-added parts and assemblies, the company

Success Story: High-Quality Yarn Manufacturer Un-Tangles Problem

March 9, 2018

Based in Jefferson, Georgia, Buhler Yarns is a yarn manufacturer and a supplier to the sheeting industry hubs in Alabama and North Carolina. The company was

Success Story: Lean Training Leads to $1.2 Million in Impacts

March 2, 2018

Unilux Advanced Manufacturing produces watertube and firetube boilers used by energy service companies and various facilities, including commercial and

Success Story: How a Montana Belt Company Brought Manufacturing Back Home

February 23, 2018

Jennifer Perry wanted to provide a low-profile, comfortable, and fashionable belt for athletic working women. In 2014 she launched Jelt, a belt manufacturing

Overcoming Challenges with the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

February 21, 2018

Over 45 percent of the manufacturing companies that the MEP National Network TM serves identify product development as one of their top three challenges over

Success Story: Strategies for Ambitious Growth

February 16, 2018

Established in 1977, Schooner Creek Boat Works grew from a group of dedicated craftspeople building wooden sailboats to become recognized as one of the finest

Southeast Region: How Do I Love Thee, Let Us Count the Ways

February 14, 2018

The MEP National Network’s Southeast region comprises seven coastal states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and

Success Story: Rapid ROI and Company Growth

February 9, 2018

Kennedy Incorporated has been manufacturing high-quality, die-struck jewelry, medallions and insignias from their North Kingstown, Rhode Island manufacturing

Fueling Growth and Advancing U.S. Manufacturing Through Tangible Results

February 5, 2018

As the former owner of a small manufacturing company, I know how important the manufacturing industry is to the local and national economy. Manufacturing is the

The Geography of Manufacturing: The Case of MEP and Rural Manufacturers

January 31, 2018

There’s an apocryphal conversation between Hemingway and Fitzgerald where Hemingway observes that the difference between the rich and others is that they have

Success Story: Student Interns Generate Needed Assistance for Startup

January 26, 2018

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Motus Motorcycles is a very small startup with 13 employees. The company is committed to building the next generation of

This Might be the Most Important Technology You’ll Ever Adopt

January 24, 2018

Have you ever heard of Moore’s Law? According to Intel founder Gordon Moore, electronic devices double in speed and capability about every two years. Think

The Making of a Hero

January 18, 2018

What does being a hero mean to you? Is it someone who puts their life on the line for their country? A person who helps the hungry and those down on their luck

Success Story: Staff Overcomes Knowledge Gap Through Workforce Training

January 5, 2018

Henke Manufacturing designs and manufactures snow plows and other attachments. With over one hundred years in the business and around 90 employees, Henke is

Cheers to the Holidays

December 29, 2017

Greetings of the season to you and yours! It’s time to offer a toast — and wish you good health, good fortune, and prosperity in the year to come. Perhaps

A Holiday Message from NIST MEP

December 22, 2017

From all of us at NIST MEP, we wish you Happy Holidays and peace, health, and prosperity in the New Year. Carroll Thomas MEP Director

Success Story: Third-Generation Family-Owned Business Stays Ahead of Competition

December 19, 2017

A family-owned company, MWW, Inc. started as a small woodworking shop selling souvenirs to vacationers passing through Hickory Nut Gap, North Carolina. The

Ho, Ho, Ho… An Early Holiday Present

December 12, 2017

Every year, I take some time to look at what manufacturing clients across the MEP National Network TM are saying about the future and the challenges they face

Connecting Manufacturers to NIST Laboratories

November 30, 2017

This article originally appeared on the FuzeHub blog. Guest blog post by FuzeHub. Federal labs are a wealth of resources for technology development, but

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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 (mfg[at]nist[dot]gov).

Manufacturing Innovation Blog