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Pennsylvania Manufacturing Extension Partnership

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PA MEP serves small and medium sized manufacturers in the state by enhancing their productivity and technological performance to create a positive and enduring economic impact in their communities and in Pennsylvania. Small and medium-sized manufacturing companies represent 12% of the total gross state product. According to the U.S. Policy Institute, Pennsylvania ranks 5th in the nation among all the states in manufacturing employment. Manufacturing businesses provide over 578,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, representing approximately one out of every 11 jobs in the state. Managed by the Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center Foundation, the PA MEP is a public-private partnership sponsored by NIST MEP. The PA MEP is also supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and by the manufacturers who receive essential training and consulting services to increase competitiveness and grow their companies.

To serve the regional diversity of the state’s manufacturing base, PA MEP manages MEP federal funding and program outcomes for a network of seven Industrial Resource Centers who are regional affiliates strategically focused on meeting the needs of the geographic region. Affiliates include: Catalyst Connection (southwest); DVIRC (southeast); IMC (central); MANTEC (south central); MRC (Lehigh Valley); NEPIRC (northeast); and NWIRC (northwest). 

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Success Stories

Picking Area Error Reduction Efforts Successful at Diamondback Automotive Accessories

Reported Year
2023
Diamondback has experienced rapid growth at their Phillipsburg facility - a 25% increase in 2020 was followed by 45% growth in 2021. However, even as the company enjoyed the rapid growth Diamondback also experienced an increase in customer complaints. The main reason for customer dissatisfaction was errors in picking the right parts to be shipped

AS9100™ Rev D QMS Development

Reported Year
2023
Catalyst Connection, part of the Pennsylvania MEP and the MEP National Network™, recently discussed with Reynolds' management the company's desire to become certified in AS9100 Rev D Quality Management System (QMS) standard. Reynolds was receiving encouragement from major customers to pursue registration and ownership recognized the benefits to
Created March 18, 2019, Updated February 16, 2024