M-ERT Launches Manufacturers Portal for Purchasing PPE and Hygienic Supplies

July 29, 2020 – Auburn, MA – The Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT) has launched a Reopening Supply Vendors and Manufacturers Portal as part of the workplace reopening plan for Massachusetts. The Portal is a list of vendors offering relevant hygienic and protective supplies for the workplace. It includes contract vendors that Massachusetts has historically purchased from, as well as manufacturers that have pivoted to produce hygienic or protective supplies as part of the M-ERT process.

The M-ERT is a coordinated effort by the Baker-Polito Administration and leading academic and industry stakeholders to support the Commonwealth’s manufacturers in their efforts to produce much needed supplies for front-line workers and the health care system. Led by Mass Tech Collaborative, MassMEP has played a vital role supporting Massachusetts companies in accessing funding for equipment, materials, supplies, workforce training, operational improvements, validating products for the Reopening Supply Vendors and Manufacturers Portal, and more.

According to Tom Andrellos, MassMEP Director of Growth and Innovation, “The Administration was able to very quickly assemble a team of experts to address the sudden new challenges facing healthcare workers, businesses and the general public. Several manufacturers here in Massachusetts were able to pivot their operations to produce PPE in high volumes, almost overnight.”

The M-ERT offers assistance to manufacturers, including:

• Product validation for the Reopening Supply Vendors and Manufacturers Portal;
• Understanding which PPE and COVID-19 related materials are of the highest priority;
• Regulatory compliance, including insight into ISO and FDA guidance;
• Addressing specifications and necessary testing, and identifying in-state test centers;
• Encouraging innovation through programs such as the Lever COVID-19 Intrapreneur Challenge;
• Retraining workers on new production lines and safety standards; and
• Sharing design and CAD files for critical items.

Members of the Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT) include representatives from: Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), MIT, MIT Lincoln Labs, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), and other industry partners.

Reopening Supply Vendors and Manufacturers Portal: https://t.co/bvgDoiOXeX?amp=1

About MassMEP
Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), part of the NIST MEP National Network, is a leading resource for manufacturing companies. Committed to success in manufacturing, MassMEP transforms companies through solutions focused on innovative growth, operational excellence, and workforce development. The organization cultivates a sustainable community built on supportive relationships, idea sharing, achievement, and next generation manufacturing. For more information, visit www.massmep.org.

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For more information, contact:

Kristy Grignon
MassMEP
100 Grove Street
Worcester, MA 01605
Tel: 508-831-7020
E-mail: kristyg@massmep.org
Web: http://www.massmep.org