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U.S. Manufacturing

Managing Productivity

June 12, 2020

I’ve made it my personal crusade to keep a focus on the fundamental importance of productivity to manufacturers, to the MEP Program, to the MEP Centers that do

The Women of U.S. Manufacturing

March 8, 2020

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women — while also marking a call to action

The Manufacturing Landscape: Looking Back and Looking Forward

January 28, 2020

I find that every so often it is good to step back and think about the current state of manufacturing in the broadest sense. We all see bits and pieces as part

The MEP National Network™ Connects with Minority Owned Manufacturers

November 19, 2019

Earlier this year, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, celebrated its 50th anniversary . The recognition

The Food Safety Modernization Act in a Nutshell

October 17, 2019

According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year 48 million people in the U.S. get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized

Rethinking Manufacturing

July 19, 2019

Recently, I got the chance to travel to Youngstown, Ohio. As I came into town, it struck me that Youngstown was like many other cities across America, including

4 Types of Robots Every Manufacturer Should Know

July 11, 2019

There is a lot of buzz these days in the manufacturing sector about robots — and how they can help manufacturers address some of the challenges they face in

“I threw the I-Ching yesterday, it said there might be some thunder at the well”

March 15, 2019

In singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s 1970s rendition of his classic song “Idiot Wind,” he hints at meeting a fortune teller who warns of possible danger ahead. We

Working and Growing with Collaborative Robots

February 22, 2019

Robots have been a part of industry longer than you might think. The patent for the first industrial robot , Unimate, was granted in 1961. While robots were

Manufacturing Brightens Your Holidays in So Many Ways

December 21, 2018

It’s true that there is “no place like home for the holidays,” but during these months of sweater weather, family gatherings, seasonal celebrations, and

Thinking About Manufacturing and Its Future

November 27, 2018

Manufacturers throughout the United States are facing a new set of challenges and exciting growth opportunities. Given the manufacturing industry’s important

What Happens in Georgia...

November 19, 2018

…Should not stay in Georgia. Every two years, the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP) program and Kennesaw State

Preparing for Manufacturing Day 2018

October 1, 2018

Another productive (I do believe that manufacturing productivity is on the rise) year has flown by and it is once again time for Manufacturing Day. This year

MEP at 30 — Looking Back at the Four Eras of Manufacturing

August 23, 2018

Time is a brisk wind, for each hour it brings something new...but who can understand and measure its sharp breath, its mystery and its design? —Paracelsus Today

Building Strong Relationships to Face Challenges, Make the Most of Opportunities

July 12, 2018

The coming decade offers a host of challenges and opportunities for both large and small manufacturers alike, and forging the right partnerships — whether

Alaska Manufacturing – A Hidden Treasure

May 24, 2018

Alaska brings to mind wild salmon, expansive wilderness and unique native cultures. But did you know there’s a small and thriving manufacturing industry

All Around the Kitchen: Tales of a Kitchen Remodel Sourced in the U.S.

May 17, 2018

Without manufacturing, the room where you make dinner would be rather stark and barren. There’d be no pots, no pans, no stoves, no spatulas, no appliances – big

Family Friendly Factory Tours

May 15, 2018

It’s spring break for my 6-year-old grandson Bruce, and I’m spending the week with him in Oakland, California. What to do? We make a couple of trips to the park

Small Manufacturers Make a Big Difference

March 28, 2018

How do we reach the next generation, change their perceptions about manufacturing, and let them know about available career opportunities? Manufacturing Day

Craft Beer is Everywhere, Man

March 6, 2018

“...Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado, Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika, Chaska, Nebraska

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

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

What Industry is in Your Wallet?

November 2, 2017

Previously I wrote a blog about the differences across the 50 states as measured by manufacturing value added per employee. The differences across the states

Live from Across the Country, It’s Manufacturing Day

October 6, 2017

What has close to 3,000 events across the nation with more than a half million people learning about manufacturing careers and what gets made in communities

Success Story: Launching Into the International Aerospace Market With ExporTech™

August 25, 2017

Liquid Measurement Systems (LMS) was founded in 1989 with one big idea: to replace the metal tubes used in fuel probes for aircrafts with graphite composite—a

A Guide to Hiring Veterans to Fill the Manufacturing Skills Gap

August 23, 2017

On the surface, the manufacturing industry’s “good news, bad news” scenario appears to lean toward the good. The 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index

Who is #1?: Measuring Manufacturing Value Added per Employee Across the Nation

August 16, 2017

I’ve been on a long-term quest to convince folks that productivity is important and not just something economists are concerned about. I’ve written about

Success Story: CoreValue Assessment Sets Arkansas Company Off On Transformational Journey

August 11, 2017

Successful entrepreneurs Robert and Becky Foster founded the Intimidator Group with the all-American, hardworking values that made their previous companies

Success Story: Small Woman-Owned Business Ramps Up in a New Facility

July 28, 2017

Michele’s Granola is a small, woman-owned business located in Timonium, MD that was founded in 2006. Started in the kitchen of owner Michele Tsoucalas, the

Hoorah for Made in America Week!

July 18, 2017

GE recently released a great TV commercial to jumpstart an effort to employ 20,000 women in STEM roles by 2020 that asks, “What if we treated female scientists

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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