Section 3. UTAH-MEP

Formed in 2020, the UTAH-MEP brings together the strongest manufacturing improvement groups in Utah combined with university resources, government relationships, and economic development partnerships to provide excellence in training, consulting, and customer service.

The UTAH-MEP includes the University of Utah’s MEP Center (UUMEP), Utah State University’s Utah Manufacturing Extension Service (UMES), Impact Utah, Utah Manufacturers Association (UMA), World Trade Center of Utah (WTC Utah), and Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI).

other organizations and federal research labs that share a passion for enhancing the manufacturing community.

Funded in part through Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) based at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), UTAH-MEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Utah. The MEP program is a network of over 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at more than 450 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to the resources they need to succeed. This partnership provides a range of resources to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers identify and accelerate growth and competitiveness. As a public-private partnership, the MEP program delivers a high return on investment to taxpayers.

Through its collaborations at the federal, state, and local level, the UTAH-MEP works with manufacturers to develop new products and customers, expand, and diversify markets, adopt new technology, and enhance value within supply chains. The UTAH-MEP is the state-sponsor organization for Utah’s supply chain solution, CONNEX™ Utah, which is being adopted by MEP centers across the nation. The national MEP program serves as a bridge to

At its core, the UTAH-MEP shares knowledge to improve lives by providing access to manufacturing experts, application engineers, and research professionals. This approach helps us reduce business’ costs, improve productivity, and increase capacity. This service is available to every manufacturer in Utah, each will receive a customized approach focusing on their specific obstacles to growth and profitability. Whatever the need, UTAH-MEP offers the tools, expertise, and flexibility to engage with manufacturers and rural businesses at all levels.

Supports Utah’s Economic Development Strategy Through Specific Manufacturer Improvements

The UTAH-MEP provides outreach, value-added training, education, workforce development, certifications, and needs-driven services to Utah manufacturers and rural Utah businesses. The collaboration is aligned with Utah’s economic development strategy to produce results, based on our joint records of proven performance and successful outcomes (Figures 3 and 4). Figure 5 provides the top reasons manufacturers chose to work with UTAH-MEP.

Every manufacturing client requires a customized approach focusing on their specific obstacles to growth and profitability. Entry points range from creating improved flow on the production line to speeding sales order processing, training the workforce on problem-solving approaches, and developing a strategy to enter new markets. Whatever the need, UTAHMEP offers the tools, expertise, and flexibility to engage with manufacturers and rural businesses at all levels. Figure 6 provides the strategic challenges that manufacturers indicate they will face over the next three years.

Generate Demand: Do you have fewer customers and sales than you hoped for? Learn how to accurately predict your business’s growth with demand training through the UTAH-MEP. Our beginnerto expert-level courses help refine your marketing and sales strategies to get your message in front of the right audience and increase your top line.

Grow Leadership: Does your organization promote its employees into leadership positions? Would you like your leaders to prioritize efficiency and performance for all your teams? If so, you need UTAH-MEP’s leadership training. These courses are designed to help novice and experienced leaders alike improve the performance of their teams. Completion of our training will teach your leaders how to instill lasting change within your organization, inspire their teams toward better performance, and become more financially literate.

Quality & Compliance: Does your organization meet the compliance requirements needed to compete with high-paying jobs? Since many projects require certain certifications before your company will even be considered, compliance needs to be a priority. Fortunately, the UTAH-MEP can connect you with every compliance training provider you will ever need.

Expand Capacity: Do you want a more efficient output with your current number of employees? The UTAH-MEP offers training to motivate your organization toward the implementation of industry best practices and procedures. This training encourages growth-inspiring tactics while also eliminating wasteful behaviors, helping you get the most out of your teams and employees. In addition, the UTAH-MEP is the state’s sponsor of Utah’s supply chain solution, CONNEX™ Utah, to help you better connect, be discovered, and grow your business.

Maximize Technology: Is your organization looking to develop a new product or implement new technology into your manufacturing process? The UTAH-MEP technology offerings will get you the help you need. We’ll walk you through the technological advancements of the manufacturing industry so you’ll know exactly which automated services can help your company improve its effectiveness or bring new products to the market.

Statewide Market Penetration: Deliver statewide services to balance market penetration with impact and revenue generation.

Growth of Manufacturing Jobs: Address manufacturer needs focused on outdoor products and small manufacturing enterprises to support state economic development initiatives.

Strengthen Manufacturing Ecosystem Partnerships: Expand relationships with Utah’s state, regional, and local ecosystem partners.

Strengthen Workforce Development: Support state and stakeholder missions and help outdoor products and SMEs increase innovation, growth, productivity, and technology adoption.

Support Rural Small Manufacturers: Ensure Utah rural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and outdoor products have the training, resources, and tech support.

UTAH-MEP Members

Below is a list and brief description of the various members of the UTAH-MEP. Members of the UTAH-MEP collaborate to deliver a full spectrum of services to the manufacturers and rural businesses of the state as seen in Figure 4.

The program was initially authorized in 1988 and has been active in Utah since 1995. Focused on helping smalland mid-sized manufacturers generate business results, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network comprises 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and its over 1,400 trusted advisors and experts. For every one dollar of federal investment in FY 2020, the MEP National Network generated $19.60 in new sales growth and $33.70 in new client investment. This translates into $2.9 billion in new sales. During this same time, for every $1,381 of federal investment, the Network created or retained one manufacturing job. (nist.gov/mep/mep-national-network)

The University of Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership (UUMEP) Center is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Utah since 2016. In 2020 they, along with Utah State University and Impact Utah, founded the Utah Manufacturing Extension Partnership Alliance (UTAH-MEP) as the public face of the MEP in Utah. The UTAH-MEP allows partners across the state to use federal funds to deliver comprehensive, proven solutions to Utah manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing manufacturing. The UUMEP Center is a gateway for our manufactures to access the amazing resources of the University of Utah and NIST to solve technical issues.

With a history of over 26 years of providing high quality learning acceleration to Utah’s manufacturers, Impact Utah has a new leadership team that combines to bring over 100 years of continuous improvement, business leadership, business development, workforce and talent development, and entrepreneurship experience to assist Utah business enterprises. Impact Utah works with businesses throughout Utah to help access the resources and training they need to grow, and to do so profitably. Impact Utah is funded by state, local, and private resources, and is flexible in what it offers businesses in order to fully serve its clients’ needs. Impact Utah works with owners, executives, managers, and operators to assess company needs in all areas and then make sure those companies have the resources they need to bridge the performance gaps discovered.

The Utah State University’s Utah Manufacturing Extension Service (UMES) was founded in 1996. The UMES is part of the University’s Extension program that supports Utah’s manufacturing sector. The focus of the UMES is to help manufacturers in Utah grow their businesses and compete on a regional, national, and global scale. UMES provides a broad range of hands-on business, technical, and manufacturing optimization services that are delivered by experienced, boots-on-the-ground professionals. The program has developed a comprehensive network of public and private partners to help Utah manufacturers build cultures to support and sustain continuous improvement.

As a part of this collaborative effort, Utah State University created a new Manufacturing/Outdoor Products Support Hub, which is a cooperation between the UMES and USU’s new Outdoor Product Design and Development (OPDD) program. The OPDD program was created in 2015 to support Utah’s diverse and growing outdoor products manufacturing and design and development industry sector. OPDD is a valuable resource to help the outdoor industry with design and development knowledge, using tools to help bring new products to the market and grow the Utah economy.

World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2006 and became an official member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) in 2007. As the state’s authority for international business development, WTC Utah facilitates economic growth by helping Utah companies increase exports, attracting foreign investment and building international awareness of the state. World Trade Center Utah is a licensed and certified member of the WTCA. Headquartered in New York City, WTCA is comprised of a network of more than 300 World Trade Centers in 100 countries around the world focused on facilitating prosperity through trade and investment.

The Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) brings together public, private, community, industry, and education partners to assure the growth and sustainability of Utah’s advanced material and manufacturing industry. The mission of UAMMI is to ensure that Utah is the global leader in advanced value-added materials, manufacturing, technology development, and design by integrating industry, academic, and government contributors in ways that enhance collaboration, promote business opportunities, share knowledge resulting from relevant research, and engage a skilled and trained workforce.

The Utah Manufacturers Association (UMA) is the leading trade association for the manufacturing community in the state of Utah. UMA is the one-stop shop for the workforce regarding safety, employee development, local and national public policy, business development, and continuous improvement. Industry leaders come together with UMA to solve the relevant issues facing manufacturers. The UMA Center for Business helps its members grow using continuous improvement tools like Lean and Six Sigma. UMA’s mission is to connect and strengthen Utah manufacturers.