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

A.l. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership, doing business as Genedge Alliance, will provide $400,000 in supply chain optimization and intelligence network services under a cooperative agreement from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.

Specifically, the recipient will use the funding to hire a full-time CONNEX Virginia manager to grow use of the marketplace among Commonwealth businesses and facilitate new supply chain connections. The manager will also conduct supply chain mapping to identify gaps and source domestic alternatives to strengthen resilience. Contract resources will develop digital content and training to help small manufacturers develop capabilities to fill critical needs. The intended outcomes are to increase supply chain linkages for Virginia manufacturers, provide alternatives to reduce supplier risk, and improve supply chain resilience through June 2025. No subawards are planned under this agreement.

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 virginia.

Activities

There will be three primary activities supported by the funding. First, the funding will provide the ability to hire a full-time connex virginia manager to manage and facilitate the use of the connex virginia marketplace. This will include growing the number of companies using the tool as well as working with the registered manufacturers to facilitate exchange posting and supplier scouting responses to increase supply chain linkages. Secondly, the connex virginia marketplace manager (cvmm) will also support supply chain mapping and intelligence efforts to identify critical gaps in existing capabilities that can be targeted for supply chain development efforts. The cvmm manager will also facilitate matches to identified needs as requested in the intelligence network. Lastly, the funding will provide contract resources to generate relevant digital content that can be used to develop existing virginia manufacturers, especially small suppliers, or support identifying appropriate domestic sources to fill critical supply chain needs for commonwealth businesses.

Expected outcomes

The primary impact of the funding will be to 1) increase the number of supply chain connections for and between virginia's manufacturers by identifying opportunities to build new relationships that strengthen the supply chain, 2) provide alternatives to reduce supplier risk, and 3) improve supply chain resilience while ensuring that all supplier scouting requests receive an evaluation and response. Increasing engagement in connex virginia will provide data and market intelligence to help identify critical opportunities to improve the capacity and resilience of local and national manufacturing supply chains. This funding will provide capacity to develop relevant digital content, training, and resources to help small manufacturers develop capabilities needed to fill critical supply chain gaps, or to augment existing relationships to reduce supply risk and increase the resilience of the supply chain. This will benefit manufacturers in virginia directly by increasing their revenue, establishing profitable supplier relationships, and improving capabilities to provide more value to their customers. In turn, this will increase the resilience and reduce the level of risk in critical supply chains, thereby improving the security of the commonwealth and the nation, while providing intelligence and insight into strengths and opportunities for future development.

Intended beneficiaries

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

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.