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

The Pa IRC Network Foundation received a $400,000 cooperative agreement award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to optimize domestic supply chains in Pennsylvania. Through this award, Pa IRC Network Foundation and six nonprofit sub-awardees - Mantec Inc., Nepirc, Catalyst Connection, Innovative Manufacturers Center Inc., Manufacturers Resource Center, and Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center - will provide supply chain intelligence, supplier scouting services, and supply chain education workshops to small and medium-sized manufacturers in Pennsylvania through May 2025. Specifically, the recipients will conduct a statewide supply chain landscape audit, support 100% of supplier scouting inquiries, and develop a replicable model for delivering supplier scouting and supply chain education services to strengthen domestic supply chain resiliency for Pennsylvania manufacturers.

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 pennsylvania.

Activities

Pennsylvania MEP will engage in three related primary activities over the 2-year period of performance: perform a state-wide supply chain landscape audit to define and map critical manufacturing ecosystems, resiliency levels, growth opportunities, and market intelligence (supply chain intelligence); comprehensively support supplier scouting services including the development of a PA supply chain working group (supplier scouting), and provide supply chain 101 educational workshops for smms to inform and educate the market and to upskill the staff of PA MEP's partners (supply chain education).

Expected outcomes

Enhanced knowledge of OEM's and suppliers within determined critical industry segments to allow for deeper engagement in national supply chain concerns. PA will be positioned to respond to all well-defined supplier scouting requests and intends to respond to 100% of incoming supplier scouting inquiries. A replicable and desirable model for delivering both supplier scouting services and supply chain education to smms in PA will be developed and can be contributed to the mepnn.

Intended beneficiaries

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

Subrecipient activities

The recipient plans to subaward funds to participate in conducting the activities of this project as stated above.