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NIST in Arkansas

$20M

in financial awards from NIST to organizations in the state of Arkansas in 2024

  • In FY 2024, NIST supported the state’s aerospace and aviation sectors with a $10 million grant for Arkansas State University’s new Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing. An additional $10 million in grants to the University of Arkansas in FY 2024 support a Center for Design and Materials Innovation and a Center for Large-Scale Testing of Seismic Systems.
  • Arkansas metals manufacturers rely on NIST reference materials for iron and steel alloys to check for composition, hardness and toughness, ensuring the highest quality control for materials where failure would cause catastrophic losses.
  • NIST’s library of reference materials helps to ensure that foods grown or eaten in the U.S. are safe from contaminants and allergens that could cause illness to consumers. Arkansas companies rely on NIST reference materials such as tomato, peach and apple leaves to check their food safety testing methods and help them comply with the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act.
  • Since FY 2020, Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, part of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, has received $6.2 million in federal funds from NIST, with $5.5 million matched in nonfederal funds, to build capacity for innovation, operational excellence, sustainability and leadership development among Arkansas manufacturers.

Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions helped custom furniture maker WWBeds in Little Rock adopt value stream mapping and lean and Toyota  Kata methods to create production flows and eliminate barriers. WWBeds tripled its sales revenue to $1.6 million and saved $600,000 in overtime. 

MEP Success Stories

Good Manufacturing Practices Certification Fuels Expansion

Reported Year
2023
The company needed to obtain a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certification to proactively prepare for upcoming Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation changes in the hemp industry and to boost its competitive edge in the market.

KATA Assists Manufacturer in Breaking Down Silos and Boosting Sales

Reported Year
2025
During the closing of one of SMA's quarterly Strategic Planning meetings, Blant Hurt challenged the group to get all departments more focused on working together, eliminate silos, and pursue their own lean journeys. Interdepartmental silos create significant challenges within organizations by hindering communication, collaboration, and efficiency

Investing in Workforce Excellence Drives Continuous Improvement and Operational Success

Reported Year
2025
Green Bay Packaging required ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Training to comply with international quality standards. Maintaining ISO 9001 certification is essential for the company, ensuring continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Regular employee attrition creates an ongoing need to train new internal auditors to

Learn how NIST improves the lives of all Americans by conducting research and fostering collaborations that make possible everything from reliable vaccine storage and fair fuel transactions to next-generation MRIs and fair stock trades. Check out NIST Works for You.

News & Updates

Featured Video

Heroes of American Manufacturing: Mayville Engineering Company (MEC)

Heroes of American Manufacturing: Mayville Engineering Company (MEC)

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