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Pennsylvania Manufacturing Extension Partnership

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PA MEP serves small and medium sized manufacturers in the state by enhancing their productivity and technological performance to create a positive and enduring economic impact in their communities and in Pennsylvania. Small and medium-sized manufacturing companies represent 12% of the total gross state product. According to the U.S. Policy Institute, Pennsylvania ranks 5th in the nation among all the states in manufacturing employment. Manufacturing businesses provide over 578,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, representing approximately one out of every 11 jobs in the state. Managed by the Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center Foundation, the PA MEP is a public-private partnership sponsored by NIST MEP. The PA MEP is also supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and by the manufacturers who receive essential training and consulting services to increase competitiveness and grow their companies.

To serve the regional diversity of the state’s manufacturing base, PA MEP manages MEP federal funding and program outcomes for a network of seven Industrial Resource Centers who are regional affiliates strategically focused on meeting the needs of the geographic region. Affiliates include: Catalyst Connection (southwest); DVIRC (southeast); IMC (central); MANTEC (south central); MRC (Lehigh Valley); NEPIRC (northeast); and NWIRC (northwest). 

View the One Pager for Pennsylvania

Success Stories

Marcal Invests in Training ahead of New Equipment Investment

Reported Year
2024
The company is investing in new equipment and technologies to become even more competitive. Plans include new production lines, new packing lines, robotics and more, but implementing these new technologies is usually disruptive for a company, as they change how work is done. Marcal's leadership turned to IMC, the Innovative Manufacturers’ Center

Sewing Six Sigma: Textile Manufacturer Employees Obtain Yellow Belt Designations

Reported Year
2024
In fall 2021, Milco contacted NEPIRC, part of the Pennsylvania MEP and the MEP National Network, because the company was interested in having some of its employees obtain their Six Sigma Yellow Belt designation. Since the yellow belt is the first step in a Six Sigma journey, this meant these employees were making the commitment to begin learning

True to its Word: Specialty Roller & Machine Doesn’t Roll Past its Commitment to Quality

Reported Year
2024
To ensure the highest product quality for its clients and maintain a solid reputation in the marketplace, Specialty Roller & Machine wanted to have an internal audit done for its ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS). Completing this internal audit would allow Specialty Roller & Machine to make any necessary corrections in advance of issues
Created March 18, 2019, Updated February 16, 2024