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MEP Success Stories from Maine

How Diverse Projects Drove Transformative Change

Reported Year
2024
Cumberland Ironworks needed to grow to meet customer demand. The company turned to Maine MEP, part of the MEP National Network™, for help, and in the intervening years Maine MEP has become the "go-to" for Cumberland Ironworks' needs, assisting with concerns like financial resource build up, staffing, equipment and facilities.

Food Safety System Supports Rapid Domestic Market Expansion

Reported Year
2024
As Chow Maine grew, it became evident that a food safety system would be necessary to meet the requirements of larger supermarket chains and distributors. Owner Chiaolin Korona reached out to Maine MEP, part of the MEP National Network™, to see if there was any support in developing a food safety system to prepare for a third-party audit.

Empowered Team Proactively Refines a Plant's Quality Culture

Reported Year
2024
In 2023, Barrette Outdoor Living engaged with Maine MEP, part of the MEP National Network™, to provide a Principles of Lean training and a three-day kaizen event focused on 5S. At the time, the company was wanting to learn more about lean methodologies and tools to implement action-oriented improvements, while empowering employees to emerge as

Adopting a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Reported Year
2024
In 2018, W. S. Emerson found itself in a challenging position due to the swift emergence of online competitors. The company decided to revamp its approach to employee training, and Vice President Betsy Vickery took the initiative to connect with Bill Whittier of Maine MEP, part of the MEP National Network™. Together, they devised a comprehensive

Leadership Coaching - Vision, Goals, KPIs

Reported Year
2023
The majority of the products Artforms creates are sold in tourist shops and tourist areas, which means that the sales cycle is highly cyclical. Typically Artforms spends the winter and spring seasons producing product for the upcoming summer tourist season; the fall season sees a sharp decline in orders and production slows down significantly. This

Maine MEP Assists Guitar Manufacturer Through Large Growth Phases

Reported Year
2023
Bourgeois Guitars has grown significantly, quadrupling the number of staff from 8 to 32 employees and expanding manufacturing space. This rapid growth caused a need for assistance in all areas of the business. Robotics, including a PLEK fret dressing machine and other major process improvements, are underway with funding and implementation

Campfire in a Can Experiences Fiery Growth

Reported Year
2023
Veilleux’s original product was a wax and hemp fire starter that burned for 30 minutes. This initial product was a surprise success and Veilleux, a consummate entrepreneur, continued to work on new designs and new product ideas. The idea of a portable fire in a can made from all-natural materials took root and business began to grow. As sales began

Keeping up with the Ocean's Bounty

Reported Year
2022
Atlantic Sea Farms experienced a sharp decline in orders from restaurant and retail accounts hit hard by the pandemic. Despite these challenges, the team remained committed to fulfilling the harvest contracts they had with local fishermen and lobstermen and staying on track with their strategic growth goals. As a result, the 2021 harvest proved too