Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP) Beth Colbert, Center Director Ohio Department of Development
Ohio statistics: # 4: number of manufacturers >20,000 manufacturers >87% have less than 50 employees >93% have less than 100 employees >98% have less than 500 employees
The Ohio MEP, is a state-wide organization under the leadership of the Ohio Department of Development in partnership with Edison Technology Centers and other government-funded entities to work with manufacturers. NIST MEP: Next Generation Manufacturing 5 core areas: Continuous Improvement Technology Acceleration Supply Chain Sustainability Workforce
The Thomas Edison Program was legislatively enacted in 1984 to provide technology assistance and innovation to Ohio s manufacturing companies. Funded to provide a link between Ohio s university research and manufacturers, the Edison Program has evolved over time to include more. In FY2009, the Edison Technology Centers were asked to align with Key Vertical Industries, as outlined in the Battelle Study from 2008: Advanced and Alternative Energy and Environmental Technology Advanced Materials Aerospace and Aviation Agriculture and Food Processing Bio Medical Instruments, Controls, and Electronics (ICE) Motor Vehicle and Parts Manufacturing In addition; Centers were to outline goals and objectives related to: Advancing Technology and Deployment Linking technology and research from Universities, Private Labs, and Ohio Third Frontier Investments to production and sales Cluster Development, Networking, and Education Building supply chains, workforce, and networking opportunities in vertical industries Manufacturing Assistance Deploying Advanced Manufacturing technologies, reducing costs, and enhancing new products and processes.
Ohio Edison/MEP Overview How we operate as a program 5-10% Are ready for accelerated growth Edison Centers & USO partners identify, vet, and coach companies for access to Ohio Third Frontier, capital investment, supply chain opportunities, export, new markets, new products 10 15 % Will benefit from additional technical assistance 75 80% Will benefit from cost improvement training, financial coaching, general business assistance, and trade/marketing assistance Edison Centers & partners provide industry-specific technical assistance and Advanced Manufacturing Technology to solve problems and enable growth General Manufacturing Assistance TechSolve, MAGNET, local ED orgs, and MTSBDC (free or low cost services for very small manufacturers)
General Manufacturing Assistance For a large majority of the smaller manufacturers, a suite of consistent and uniform products and services will solve their problems and/or prepare them for specialized subject matter consulting or specialized technical assistance: Subject matter tools Assessment tools Marketing Energy use Lean Financial Lean 101 Business planning Access to finance others Delivery mechanisms 1 on 1 counseling Workshops Seminars Workforce training
Specialized Subject Matter For those smaller manufacturers ready for growth or requiring specialized subject matter consulting, the MTSBDC, or local partner will work with TechSolve, MAGNET, or the appropriate Lead Edison Center for industry vertical assistance Subject matter tools Assisted Product design and Development Vertical Industry specific issues Others
Customized Growth Projects For those manufacturers ready for growth a discreet project will be created and executed by the Edison Centers. In addition, the Edison Centers will link manufacturers ready for growth with Ohio Third Frontier Programs or JobsOhio. Subject matter tools EWW! Energy Management E3 Product commercialization Product design and development Plant layout Re-tooling others Delivery mechanisms Project
Edison Technology Centers MTSBDC Centers
What we need: Strong collaboration at the Federal level between departments that is translated easily at the state and regional level