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by Emily-Sue Sloane, MA Editorial Staff Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 4:30:00 PM Sign Up to receive Daily News Alerts in your E-mail Inbox    | Abstract: | The Automation Federation and the government-sponsored Manufacturing Extension Partnership team up to give U.S. manufacturers a leg up. |
| Keywords: | Manufacturing competitiveness, manufacturing competition |
Maintaining American competitiveness in a global manufacturing market is the goal of a collaborative agreement reached this week between the Automation Federation and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The two organizations will identify projects where they can pool their resources to improve manufacturing productivity and professional expertise. The Automation Federation (AF), comprising the automation and standards groups ISA, OMAC, WBF, and WINA, aims to boost the profile of automation professionals in the manufacturing sector and to develop the next generation of automation professionals by providing education, training, and professional services. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a government-funded group coordinated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, within the Dept. of Commerce, operates nationally through 440 centers and field offices in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. According to MEP's Web site, "Each center works with area manufacturers to provide expertise and services tailored to their most critical needs, which range from lean manufacturing and worker training to business practices and implementation of technology innovations." MEP relies on the expertise of both center staff and outside consultants. "Centers often work with small firms to overcome barriers in locating and obtaining private-sector resources," MEP's literature says. The partnership will spread the AF's professional development services to manufacturers through MEP's network. [Click to continue] |
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