Provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide national supply chain optimization and to establish a supply chain intelligence network

Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), doing business as Imec, was awarded a $400,000 cooperative agreement from the Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program (CFDA #11.611) to provide supply chain optimization services to small and medium-sized manufacturers in Illinois from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2025.

Through this award, Imec will deliver supplier scouting, matchmaking, capability assessments, and other technical assistance to analyze and strengthen domestic supply chains in priority industries like semiconductors, automotive, aerospace, and metal casting/forging. Imec will respond to all NIST MEP supplier scouting requests, conduct outreach to identify manufacturer needs, and track outcomes using Salesforce dashboards. As a subrecipient, Imec will also subaward portions of the funding to host universities to assist with service delivery. The award aims to improve supply chain resiliency for Illinois manufacturers through Imec's established network.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide national supply chain optimization and to establish a supply chain intelligence network. Improve the resiliency and optimization for domestic supply chains in the MEP national network in the state of illinois.

Activities

Thorough supplier scouting and matchmaking activities, which will involve responding to 100% of all NIST MEP scouting requests. Imec will also engage in extensive outreach to identify matches and determine supply chain needs from illinois manufacturers, including oems; assess and analyze supply chain capability, capacity, and gaps in priority supply chains, to include semiconductor, automotive (EV transition), aerospace, casting/forging, and local supplier mapping pilots in rural counties; expand, refresh, and establish service offerings to augment above activities and strengthen small and mid-sized manufacturers? Capabilities as supply chain solutions; execute full tracking and reporting of supply chain activities, insights, outputs, and outcomes. This will include keeping records of introductions, services, and matches. Imec will utilize salesforce to track and report using predefined metrics and dashboards. Imec will also turn to resources such as the thomas register of american manufacturers and other related databases for data intelligence. Imec is still evaluating databases such as connex and sustainment based on their effectiveness to generate center lead impacts.

Expected outcomes

Outcomes and impacts will include NIST MEP supplier scouting response rates, count of additional scouting requests from illinois, matches facilitated, events, and supply chain intelligence reports. The most important outcome factors will be reported impacts through the MEP survey process and case studies/success stories.

Intended beneficiaries

Small and medium-sized manufacturers (smms) in the state of illinois.

Subrecipient activities

Imec will subaward funds to their long-standing host universities.