News Release Provided By Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

PLYMOUTH, MI– The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center) has announced the results from its 2018 manufacturing client impact survey. The survey is conducted annually by an independent third-party to document the economic impact of the services provided by The Center and measure the return on investment to manufacturing clients served statewide.

According to the survey results from 425 companies, in 2018 The Center’s involvement helped to:

• Create or retain 10,651 jobs
• Produce $251 million in new sales and $1.6 billion in retained sales
• Achieve $81.7 million in cost savings
• Facilitate $195.7 million in investments

“Whether you’re a new manufacturer just starting out or a company that’s been around for 100 years, changes in the industry are creating new opportunities and challenges,” shared Mike Coast, President of The Center. “Our role is to help manufacturers navigate these changes and provide the tools, training and resources they need to succeed. With our staff of industry and business experts, we are uniquely positioned to help small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) with their toughest challenges.”

The Center works directly with Michigan manufacturers to provide expertise and services tailored to meet critical needs including process improvements, workforce training, business strategy development and cybersecurity guidance. These services help manufacturers accelerate and strengthen growth and competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The Center is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Michigan. The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.

Focused on helping SMMs generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and over 1,300 trusted advisors and experts at more than 400 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.

In FY2018, the MEP National Network interacted with more than 27,000 U.S. manufacturers and helped to:

• Create or retain more than 122,000 jobs
• Produce nearly $16 billion in new and retained sales
• Realize $4.0 billion in new client investments
• Achieve $1.7 billion in cost savings

The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center is an organization dedicated to supporting Michigan manufacturers to work smarter, to compete and to prosper. The Center offers personalized consulting services to meet the needs of clients in virtually every aspect of their businesses. The Center is affiliated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is part of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP

Program). The Center also is closely affiliated with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) with the shared goal of making Michigan businesses vibrant, driving GDP growth and creating new and lasting jobs. For more information, visit http://www.the-center.org

About the Survey Fors Marsh Group, LLC conducts the NIST MEP client survey. Fors Marsh Group, LLC is an Arlington, VA-based applied research firm. The company has experience both in market research and surveying with a specialization in working with small manufacturers. Fors Marsh Group, LLC conducts the survey quarterly and MEP Center clients are interviewed annually. The survey asks clients to consider the entire set of projects or services provided by a Center and to report on how their company’s performance and processes have been affected in the last 12 months. The survey asks clients to report on the impact of MEP Center services on bottom-line client outcomes and bottom-line impacts such as sales, jobs created/retained, capital investment and cost savings. The survey has 16 questions and takes an average of 10 minutes to complete.