By: Ted Bauer
Turning new hires or training current workforce into effective employees requires structure, standardization, and planning. That means developing and implementing an effective training plan that includes ongoing skills development for the entire workforce. Your company’s success depends on it.
MassMEP is proud to present the first regional event showcasing the emerging technologies being developed by the Manufacturing USA Institutes. Join us on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the DCU Center in Worcester for The Future of Manufacturing Symposium and discover future technologies opportunities for U.S. businesses and education institutions.
You can read more at our Event Website.
By John Killam, Center Director, MassMEP
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MassMEP is an economic driver committed to manufacturing growth. We add sustainable jobs and grow top line revenues for Massachusetts manufacturers.
When you partner with MassMEP, you are teaming up with experts who can help unleash your company’s growth potential. We work with your team to analyze your company’s needs, and then help develop and implement a sustainable roadmap to improve your company’s top and bottom lines.
MassMEP creates economic impact by transforming manufacturing enterprises and the manufacturing ecosystem. We specialize in helping businesses achieve operational excellence, develop workforce strategies aligned with your markets, and create innovative growth solutions that are strengthened by leveraging strategic public/private relationships that share a common goal: to secure America’s future through manufacturing innovation, education, and collaboration.
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Case Studies: Silverside DetectorsSilverside Detectors had trouble finding qualified suppliers to bring their product from idea to commercialization. They also needed a better understanding of which markets to target. MassMEP experts were brought in to help Silverside Detectors move forward in a timely manner. They provided mentoring, quality contacts, and quick access to a viable supply chain. |
MassMEP provides Massachusetts manufacturers with the resources they need to prepare for success in today’s advanced manufacturing environment. With real-world experience and expertise, MassMEP project managers have the unique ability to help manufacturers identify, analyze, and overcome strategic, operational, and workforce challenges that may be blocking their path to growth and success.
Why MassMEP?
We are an innovative, collaborative organization that helps small and medium manufacturers and businesses. We are the expert connector – we can connect you to business development opportunities, funding sources, and manufacturing knowledge. Best of all, we offer three things no other agencies can:
MassMEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Massachusetts. The Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions for manufacturers.
Strengthened by the collaboration of 51 MEP Centers and 14 Manufacturing USA Institutes, MassMEP has successfully launched projects to expand the manufacturing capabilities of 
SME’s, initiated statewide workforce development training, and raised awareness that has led to sustainability and collaboration.
Manufacturing USA
Fourteen different public-private manufacturing innovation institutes comprise Manufacturing USA. The Manufacturing USA institutes focus on moving promising, early-stage research into proven capabilities ready for adoption by U.S. manufacturers. Collaboration at the Institutes and across the network creates an innovation community ushering in the next generation manufacturing supply chains located in America and employing Americans.
What does Manufacturing USA mean for Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has made a substantial commitment to develop the Manufacturing USAinfrastructure within Massachusetts’ academic, research, and manufacturing industries through its M2I2 program – Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative. M2I2 advances innovations and job growth within the state through cross-collaboration among companies, universities, national labs, government, incubators, accelerators, and other academic and training institutions. Some of the exciting partnerships currently active include:
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)
Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, and providing connections to MIT, UMass (Lowell, Amherst, and Dartmouth), AFFOA is accelerating widespread commercialization of highly functional fabrics. Recent breakthroughs in fiber materials and manufacturing processes are on the verge of creating and producing interactive fabrics that see, hear, sense, communicate, store, and convert energy, regulate temperature, monitor health, and change color.
National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL)
By working with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), UMass, MIT, and Quincy Community College, NIIMBL (headquartered at the University of Delaware) is advancing the country’s leadership in the biopharmaceutical industry while fostering economic development, improving medical treatments, and building a qualified workforce. Traditional pharmaceutical production relies on chemistry to create medical treatments. Biopharmaceutical production relies on biology—living cells produce the treatments or their components—which requires a complex manufacturing process. Biomanufacturing is used to produce many widely used treatments for a growing number of health conditions such as cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases—and generates billions of dollars in revenue worldwide. However, innovation is needed to allow more rapid and flexible production to meet healthcare demands and ensure U.S. leadership in the industry.
Advanced Tissue Biofabrication Manufacturing USA Institute (ATB)
Led by the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) and based in Manchester, NH, the ATB partners with WPI, MIT, Boston University, and Harvard. This institute will develop next-generation manufacturing techniques for repairing and replacing cells and tissues, which may one day lead to the ability to manufacture new skin for soldiers scarred from combat or develop organ-preserving technologies to benefit Americans waiting for an organ transplant.
Want more information on how to participate in the Manufacturing USA Institutes? Contact us via email or call 508-831-7020.
Be sure to check out the MassMEP 2018 Annual Impact Report to see our results over the past year.
SAVE THE DATE: Manufacturing Our Future Summit, October 4, 2018
We have an exciting program in the works for October 4, 2018. MassMEP presents the Manufacturing Our Future Symposium featuring the Manufacturing USA Institutes and manufacturing growth opportunities.
You can read more about this event at our Event Website.
WORCESTER, Mass, March 10, 2016 — Worcester-based Interscope, Inc. has received approval from the European Union to market its EndoRotor System, an endoscopic device that streamlines interventional gastrointestinal procedures used to manage colon and esophageal cancer. Additionally, the U.S. Patent Office has awarded Interscope five patents for its innovative medical device.
Interscope’s EndoRotor System is a single resection tool to remove mucosal lesions (i.e., polyps) and Barrett’s esophagus more effectively than existing products. According to the American Cancer Society, while a majority of mucosal disease is benign, patients with polyps and/or Barrett’s have an increased risk for cancer.
Interscope President and Co-Founder Jeffery Ryan explained, “Many young companies face business needs that are often not paired well with available resources. The partnership that MassMEP and Boston Engineering presented enabled a dream to take reality in a challenging and dynamic regulatory environment.”
The Interscope milestones are rooted in early support that it received from The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP). As part of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, MassMEP provides resources to help companies succeed with invention, innovation, and commercialization that supports economic growth in the Commonwealth. Interscope required early proof-of-concept support and product development expertise to help commercialize its concept.
MassMEP provided some early stage subsidies through its Federal partner, NIST MEP, and the Research Triangle Institute to support a Technology Scouting initiative. This support helped Interscope to shape the product specification prior to launching the development effort with its resource partner Boston Engineering.
John Killam, center director of MassMEP stated, “The successful commercial launch of the EndoRotor System is a testament to the strength of collaboration between public and private resources to create an ecosystem capable of providing optimal solutions for high-value projects such as Interscope.”
Interscope used this early-stage support to advance its business, which included selecting Boston Engineering to develop the product. Boston Engineering drove the product development and design for manufacturing (DFM) process including feasibility and analysis; industrial design; rapid prototyping; and product engineering. Additionally, Boston Engineering provided regulatory submission support and collaborated with the Interscope team to develop and implement its quality management system.
“MassMEP plays an important role in Massachusetts growth by supporting the commercialization of technologies that have the potential to change the way that people work and live,” said Mark Smithers, co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of Boston Engineering. “Interscope’s five patents to date reflect the company’s innovative approach to addressing clinical needs. We are proud to work closely with the Interscope team throughout the medical device product development and submission support process.”
Interscope was co-founded by two Massachusetts-based healthcare leaders. Company president and CEO Jeffrey Ryan Jr. previously held several senior sales and marketing positions in the medical devices industry. And for the past nine years, Interscope Chief Scientific Officer Ramon Franco, MD has been the Division Director for Laryngology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Interscope, Inc. is the developer of the EndRotor System, a patented interventional resection device to address the challenges of sessile lesions and incomplete resection. Interscope is headquartered in Worcester, Mass. and is available online http://interscopemed.com/
MassMEP is part of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and a nonprofit organization that believes, given the proper support, manufacturers can challenge themselves and grow strategically, improve profitability, and create competitive advantages. MassMEP supports this belief by providing experiential learning and solution-based support services. Every engagement focuses on both the transfer of knowledge and the successful implementation of this learning for immediate impact on the company. MassMEP also serves as a valuable bridge to other organizations and programs that share a passion for developing technology and creating growth opportunities in a domestic manufacturing environment.
Boston Engineering provides product design and engineering consulting across the entire product development process from concept through product launch. Certified for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, our industry expertise includes consumer products, defense ; security, medical devices, robotics, and industrial & commercial products. We are also the Northeast’s largest PTC software reseller. Boston Engineering is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. with an additional office at UMass Dartmouth’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.boston-engineering.com
BOSTON – House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, on Wednesday announced the formation of Baystate Business Link, a new business mentoring program in Western Massachusetts.
DeLeo announced the new initiative — a partnership between the House and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce — in a morning speech to the Chamber of Commerce.
“Baystate Business Link will concentrate on connecting businesses across the state, highlighting B2B (business-to-business) opportunities and encouraging mentorships,” DeLeo said, according to his prepared remarks.
A working group to advance the effort will include former Massachusetts Energy Secretary Rick Sullivan, who is now CEO of the Western Mass Economic Development Council; Scott Bailey, managing director of MassChallenge, an accelerator for start-ups; and Jack Healy from MassMEP, a group that assists Massachusetts manufacturers.
DeLeo said the group will “help weave together untapped potential in Massachusetts.”
DeLeo framed the new initiative as part of an effort by lawmakers to improve the economy outside of Greater Boston. “Let’s leverage our existing successes so that energetic entrepreneurs, promising students and small but worthy businesses outside of Boston are no longer overlooked,” DeLeo said.
Sullivan said the working group will develop a dialogue with Boston-businesses that are looking to grow. For example, businesses looking for a company to do manufacturing, run call centers, provide data functions or fill other parts of their supply chain could find businesses in Western Massachusetts to fulfill some of those roles.
“Our priority is to look to make links between the Boston business community, which is booming, and looking to make connections to western Massachusetts to be able to grow business opportunities for western Mass.,” Sullivan said. “At least give western Massachusetts a look and give us a seat at the business table to make the case as to why investment in western Mass. would be good.”
Read the full article at www.masslive.com.
MassMEP, a leading resource for manufacturing companies in Massachusetts, today announced that Mark Weber has joined the organization as a Project Manager for the Western MA region. Mr. Weber joins MassMEP from Avery Products Corporation where he served as a Senior Technical Engineer. Mr. Weber has extensive experience in manufacturing and process improvement initiatives. For MassMEP clients, he brings together a broad range of knowledge in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, product development, automation, and business growth strategies. “Manufacturing is very much a part of the Western MA community and is continually growing,” said Jack Healy, Director of Operations, MassMEP. “Expanding our team in Western MA increases our capacity to provide services in operational excellence to advance performance, in workforce strategies to develop the next generation workforce, and in technical expertise for innovative growth solutions.” Mr. Weber stated, “I am very pleased to be a part of MassMEP. I now have the opportunity to combine my broad manufacturing consulting experience with my deep Lean and continuous improvement skills. MassMEP’s mission is a worthy one and I hope to be a significant factor in growing manufacturing in Western Massachusetts.” Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), part of the national NIST MEP system, is a leading resource for manufacturers. 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 https://www.massmep.org.
Kathie Mahoney
MassMEP
100 Grove Street
Worcester, MA 01605
Tel: 508-831-7020
E-mail: kathiem@massmep.org
Web: www.massmep.org
Shari Worthington
Telesian Technology, Inc.
49 Midgley Lane
Worcester, MA 01604
Tel: 508-755-5242
E-mail: mailto:sharilee@telesian.com
The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) recently hosted a delegation of Union presidents from the All Japan Council of Optical Industry Workers’ Union. The Council, representing 63,000 workers, wanted to review MassMEP’s reskilling program, which provides basic technical skills training for manufacturing, with a focus on machine operators. The goal of the visit was to understand how MassMEP and WPI are helping companies to improve their incumbent workers’ skills and provide pre-employment training to potential new hires.
“The Union presidents were interested in learning what kind of manufacturing has stayed in this country, as well as what type of manufacturing is currently being reshored,” said Jack Healy, Director of Operations, MassMEP. “Large Japanese manufacturers, similar to U.S. manufacturers, have moved much of their production facilities off shore. The cumulative effect of this has changed the former Japanese practice of lifelong employment to a more contingency-based (temporary) worker.”
It is reported that 40 percent of the manufacturing workforce in Japan is now temporary. An active discussion regarding the similarities and workforce concerns in both countries revealed several learning opportunities regarding the MassMEP / WPI partnership training programs that address some of the same concerns that the delegation is tackling in Japan.
Torbjorn Bergstrom, Director of the Haas Technical Education Center at WPI’s Washburn Shops, provided the Japanese delegation with a tour of the center, which features 11 Haas computer numeric control machines.
“WPI was happy to provide insights into retraining programs that have been so successful for us over the years,” said Bergstrom. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with groups on critical retraining efforts.”
In an effort to address retraining issues, MassMEP has developed the Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification. This credential is an advanced manufacturing certification program that serves two main purposes. One is to add value and merit to the industry to encourage individuals to consider careers in manufacturing. The second is to create a standard instruction set and evaluation process (which is continuously improved) so that employers readily understand the skill set of an applicant, therefore reducing the cost of hire.
The Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification, developed by the Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative (MACWIC), is a standard instruction set and evaluation process. Employers can readily understand the skill set of an applicant, reducing the cost of hire. The MACWIC credential is industry-developed and industry-recognized as a way to benchmark the competencies of manufacturing technology students.
In February 2014, MassMEP and WPI gave a $2.5 million grant in the form of software and educational materials to dozens of Massachusetts vocational high schools to allow students to gain skills on advanced high-tech machinery.
For recruiting programs, schools also received copies of Jeremy Bout’s Massachusetts “LaunchPoint” series that features local young people and their journeys into manufacturing.
Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation’s first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. WPI’s talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university’s innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 35 WPI project centers throughout North America and Central America, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe. http://www.wpi.edu/.
Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), part of the national NIST MEP system, is a leading resource for manufacturers. 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 https://www.massmep.org.
For more information please contact: Kathie Mahoney kathiem@massmep.org.
COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITIES MANUFACTURING GROWTH INITIATIVE (CCMGI) FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS REGION