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

New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program Inc., doing business as NJ Manufacturing Extension Program, was awarded $400,000 through a Cooperative Agreement from the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program (CFDA #11.611). NJ Manufacturing Extension Program will use the funding to provide supply chain optimization and intelligence services to small and medium-sized manufacturers in New Jersey through June 2025.

Specifically, NJ Manufacturing Extension Program will contribute 1.7 full-time equivalents to support national supplier scouting and optimization through the MEP network's database of 140,000 U.S. manufacturers and suppliers. Services will include supply chain mapping, clustering expertise, and engaging original equipment manufacturers. NJ Manufacturing Extension Program will prioritize industries like offshore wind, medical devices, and defense supply chains. The program aims to strengthen New Jersey manufacturers' competitiveness and help the state economy. No sub-awards are planned under this Cooperative 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 new jersey.

Activities

Njmep will contribute to the national supply chain optimization and intelligence network build out by supporting a 1.70 full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel configuration. Provide support for national supplier scouting and optimization services to ensure every manufacturing extension partnership supplier scouting request receives a response even when no suppliers are identified, oversee supply chain partnerships, using a national database of 140,000+ U.S. Manufacturers and suppliers that features in-depth search capacity based on production capabilities, processes, certifications, materials, industry sectors, and capability statements, as the platform to support MEP supplier scouting and optimization. Will consider the use of a common application programming interface (API) to facilitate exchange of data and information with the MEP national network. Reporting network intelligence-gathering results such as expansion of njmep?s market understanding of the local supply chain, supplier mapping, clustering of expertise, and engagement of original equipment manufacturers (oems) and reporting results of projects as required to help oems and manufacturers recognize opportunities with future planning efforts. Prioritize supply chain optimization activity within industries most relevant to new jersey such as offshore wind, medical device manufacturing, and the department of defense supply chain, among others.

Expected outcomes

Strengthen its internal personnel configurations to support the MEP national network's national supply chain optimization and intelligence network, including timely processing of all supplier scouting requests. Increase awareness by new jersey oems and manufacturers of the relevance and utility of the national supply chain optimization and intelligence network. A significant number (to be determined) of new jersey manufacturers will register in the connex marketplace. Participate in MEP national network data sharing, dissemination, and capacity building activities necessary to support effective and efficient operation of the national supply chain optimization and intelligence network. Njmep will make available its core service offerings to manufacturers who enroll in the connex marketplace.

Intended beneficiaries

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

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.