Posts Tagged: manufacturing

Building a Strategic Marketing Plan Primed for Growth & Marketing Tools that every Manufacturer Should Leverage

By Kristy Grignon In Posted 10/24/2018

Lean manufacturing will take you far, but it is exponentially more valuable when paired with a strategic plan for long-term growth. Manufacturers with formalized, growth-centered strategic plans achieve their goals more efficiently and cost-effectively than those who focus only on the bottom line. This workshop will take MassMEP members through the entire process of building a strategic plan – from evaluating and prioritizing your needs to devising the best strategy and tactics to address those needs. You can expect to leave this workshop ready to create and implement your own growth-centered strategic marketing plan.

In today’s digital era, the most successful manufacturers take the principles of Six Sigma to the next level with innovative new digital marketing tools. You can measure your marketing in the same way that you measure manufacturing processes – and achieve the same sustained quality improvement that Six Sigma brings to your process. This workshop will illustrate useful tools ranging from customer relationship management (CRM) systems that help you keep your customers and prospects happy to marketing automation platforms that take care of repetitive tasks like email and event marketing and everything in between.

What’s Trending in Manufacturing – Partner with MassMEP and Watch Your Business Grow

By Sean Healy In Blog Post Posted 06/01/2018

By John Killam, Center Director, MassMEP

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.

Partner with MassMEP and Watch Your Business Grow

Case Studies: Silverside Detectors

Silverside 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.

Is Your Business in Compliance with DoD Cybersecurity Regulations?

By Kristy Grignon In Blog Post, News Releases Posted 04/25/2018

What’s Trending in Manufacturing

Is Your Business in Compliance with DoD Cybersecurity Regulations?

By John Killam, President, MassMEP

In 2017, the DoD issued a mandate that by December 31, 2017, all DoD contractors (including small businesses) must meet minimum cybersecurity requirements or risk losing DoD business.Manufacturing companies that produce products for contractors of the Department of Defense (DoD) face new challenges when it comes to complying with cybersecurity regulations. Perhaps the first hurdle is that many don’t even know they are required to do this! Few are aware of the DOD’s cybersecurity regulations, never mind how to comply. But don’t fret, the MassMEP can help navigate these uncharted waters.

Ensure that any unclassified DoD information kept on a contractor’s/vendor’s internal data system is safeguarded from cyber attacks, and
Any consequences associated with a breach are assessed and minimized via the cyber incident reporting and damage assessment processes.

How Did This Come About?
The Joint Task Force Transformation Initiative was launched in April 2009 by the DoD and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The goal of the Initiative was to create cybersecurity standards consistent across different federal agencies. As this was developing, Congress added additional requirements to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In 2015, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed cybersecurity standards (Special Publication 800-171 “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Non-federal Information Systems and Organizations”) that the DoD implemented in their policies and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The publication was revised in December 2016.

We’re a small manufacturing company. Do we really need to worry about cybersecurity? The short answer is, Yes!

Most small manufacturers don’t consider the impact of a cybersecurity breach. But today, as hackers become more adept at accessing systems, cyber attacks can come in many forms: phishing, web attacks, spam, identity theft, and ransomware.

Even small business can be hacked. In fact, the majority (70%) of reported breaches affected small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. A sustainable plan is vital for a small business’ survival – one cyber attack can devastate a business.

What Does this Mean for My Small Business?
As a small business contracting with the DoD, you are required to adhere to two basic cybersecurity standards:

Provide adequate security to protect defense information kept on internal data systems. The standards include:
- Access Control Media
- Awareness & Training
- Audit & Accountability Configuration Management
- Identification & Authentication Incident Response Maintenance
- Media Protection
- Personnel Security
- Physical Protection
- Risk Assessment
- Security Assessment
- System & Communications Protection System & Information Integrity
Immediately report any cyber breaches/issues and cooperate with DoD to respond to these.

MassMEP has established an integrated approach with multiple solutions to work with Massachusetts manufacturing companies to determine the best solution for them.

What Do I Do if a Breach is Discovered?
1. Don’t panic. Cybersecurity occurs in a dynamic environment. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to attack information systems and DoD is constantly responding to these threats. So, even if a contractor does everything right and institutes the strongest checks and controls, it is possible that someone will come up with a new way to penetrate these measures. DoD does not penalize contractors acting in good faith. The key is to work in partnership with DoD so that new strategies can be developed to stay one step ahead of the hackers.

2. Contact DoD immediately – in fact, a breach must be reported to the DoD within 72 hours of discovery. An online form is available for reporting the breach.
3. Contact MassMEP to determine how to best determine next steps.

How do I meet the SP 800-171 Requirements?
Meeting the SP 800-171 is an ongoing process that involves continuous assessment, monitoring, and improvement. Periodically assess the security controls in your company’s systems to determine if the controls are effective in their application. Develop and implement plans of actiondesigned to correct deficiencies and reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities in systems. Monitor security controls on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued effectiveness of the controls. Develop, document, and periodically update system security plans that describe system boundaries, system environments of operation, how security requirements are implemented, and the relationships with or connections to other systems.

Although these requirements may initially seem overwhelming, small businesses can use this framework to divide the project into small, manageable chunks and work toward attaining compliance.

What is a System Security Plan?
A System Security Plan is a document that describes how a small manufacturer meets the security requirements for a system or how a small manufacturer plans to meet the requirements. The system security plan describes the system boundary, the environment in which the system operates, how the security requirements are implemented, and the relationships with or connections to other systems

How Can I Protect My Company?
Cybersecurity is vital to the health of your business. Ensuring your data is safe protects the integrity and confidentiality of your information and provides numerous advantages. A cybersecurity program can help your business:

Avoid potential losses
Ensure employee and customer privacy by protecting confidential information
Protect valuable business data
Lessen vulnerability for an attack

It’s important that manufacturers understand and manage the risk and establish a cybersecurity protocol to protect your most critical assets. Based on information provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), MassMEP recommends these steps to help reduce your risk of a cyber attack.

Five Steps to Reduce Cyber Risks
MassMEP has established a structured approach that focuses on the five major steps to reduce cyber risks through a comprehensive set of options and solutions. These simple, low-cost steps are based on the official NIST guidance from the Cybersecurity Framework and have been tailored to meet the needs of small businesses.

IDENTIFY – Know who has access to your information and maintain control of that access. Ensure risk reduction by conducting background checks on anyone with access. Require each employee to have an individual user account. Create policies and procedures for cybersecurity and ensure your employees are aware of them and understand protocol.

PROTECT – Limit the number of people who have access to data, safeguard your data by installing surge protectors and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), ensure you are patching operating systems and applications on a routine basis, install software and hardware firewalls on your networks, secure wireless access points, create web and email filters, utilize encryption software to protect sensitive information, properly and securely dispose of old computers/media, and ensure your employees understand the risks and are trained appropriately.

DETECT – Be proactive by installing and updating anti-virus controls/software (anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware), develop logs, and monitor usage.

RESPOND – Be ready to respond and generate a plan for security breaches and disasters to ensure you are able to respond in the most timely manner.

RECOVER – Install automatic backup software and ensure you are regularly backing up information, make full backups of business data and confidential information, invest in cyber insurance to protect your assets should a breach occur, and continually access and make necessary improvements to cybersecurity processes and procedures.

Additional resources are available at NIST’s web site and a FAQ from the DoD.

Still have questions? Contact MassMEP today to get the help you need to ensure your business meets these new regulations.

What is the 4th Industrial Revolution?

By Sean Healy In Videos Posted 04/09/2018

What is the 4th Industrial Revolution?

With its remarkable technological breakthroughs and promising impacts to our lives, NOW is the time to be a manufacturer.

MassMEP Diversifies Accelerated CNC Training Program, Partners with Seven Hills Foundation

By Kristy Grignon In Blog Post, News Releases Posted 02/20/2018

For more information please contact:

Kathie Mahoney, kathiem@massmep.org

Worcester, MA – This February, nine participants in the MassMEP Accelerated CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Skills Training Program completed their training and received advanced MACWIC certification. The graduates spent seven weeks participating in an intensive experience that incorporates both classroom and hands-on curriculum to prepare them for jobs as CNC machine operators. This class was the first in which MassMEP partnered with Seven Hills Foundation in Worcester to train one of their supported individuals.

MassMEP’s training model combines classroom instruction, virtual simulation, and hands-on training to build job-ready skills. Additionally, students are provided work readiness skills that are critical in order to secure employment in today’s manufacturing industry. The training program was funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and Hollings Manufacturing Extension Program.

Congratulations to MassMEP’s Accelerated CNC Skills Training Program

graduation class, February 2018.

What began as an idea to train people with autism for careers in manufacturing morphed into a pilot project broadened to include people with various disabilities. One highly motivated individual, who happened to be in a wheelchair, was selected for this initial pilot. With support services from Seven Hills and a willingness from all training partners to see what was possible, Kelly O’Brien graduated as a certified CNC machine operator with the rest of her class.

Kelly O’Brien is the first Seven Hills Foundation client to graduate from

MassMEP’s Accelerated CNC Skills Training Program, February 2018.

“Kelly has worked hard and shown the drive and determination to take advantage of this opportunity and build a career path in a sector that is highly sought and needed here in Massachusetts,” said Trudy Dould, Clinician at Seven Hills Foundation. “Throughout this training, she showcased her abilities and did not let her disability present an obstacle in her goal of obtaining this certificate.” Seven Hills, along with other partners, is in the process of obtaining a special, motorized wheelchair that will allow Kelly to achieve a vertical, standing position to assist her at work.

“Seven Hills is committed to partner with MassMEP to provide manufacturing training to some of our supported individuals,” said Dr. David Jordan, President of Seven Hills Foundation. “This is a wonderful opportunity to educate and empower people to live the valued and meaningful life they choose…and provide Massachusetts manufacturers with great employees.”

Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification

About Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

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, and achievement.

About MACWIC

The purpose of the Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovative Collaborative is to preserve manufacturing tribal knowledge and to execute the transfer of knowledge and critical skills to the current and future workforce. For more information, visit http://www.macwic.org

MassMEP Graduates Manufacturing-Trained Workers in the More Skilled Workers Program

By Sean Healy In News Releases Posted 03/21/2017

Worcester, MA – MassMEP recently celebrated the graduation of students who participated in the Advanced CNC Program funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The graduation was attended by Representatives Jeffrey Roy and Daniel Donahue, Senator Michael Moore, and the graduates’ family members.

Presenting citations to manufacturing graduates of the More Skilled Workers program. Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Rep. Daniel Donahue, Senator Michael Moore.

At the ceremony, Rep. Roy, House Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus Committee, recognized the hard work of the graduates and their dedication to building on their skill base in order to enter into a manufacturing career. Rep. Roy stated, “Congratulations for taking the step to be a part of the manufacturing renaissance that is going on in Massachusetts. Manufacturing is flourishing in Massachusetts.”

The Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification training program was developed by the Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative (MACWIC) to meet the demands of Massachusetts manufacturers. Since it’s launch, MassMEP has graduated 326 students. The placement rate upon graduation is 93%, with an average starting wage of $18.00.

The MassMEP Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification program has worked with about 175 Massachusetts companies to provide assistance in filling their skills gaps. The benefit of the program is the cost savings to employers. By virtue of the candidates receiving the MACWIC credential upon graduation, an employer knows the competencies of the candidate prior to hiring them. This can save the employer significant time and cost when on-boarding a new employee.

The Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification pyramid.

“This 7-week training program is life-changing for the participants,” stated John Killam, MassMEP President. “The training they receive provides them with the skills to earn a living wage and support their family. These are not skills they had prior to this training course, but now they will have them for the rest of their lives.”

The graduates spent seven (7) weeks participating in an intensive classroom and hands-on curriculum to prepare for jobs as CNC operators. MassMEP’s training model combines classroom, simulation, and hands-on training to build job ready skills. Additionally, students are prepared with work readiness skills that are critical in order to secure employment in today’s manufacturing. Their hard work was rewarded at graduation with the receipt of certificates in OSHA training and Principles of Lean manufacturing, as well as a certificate of completion for their full course work. Representatives Roy and Donahue and Senator Moore also presented the graduates with citations from the State House.

The advanced CNC training program covers 260 hours overall and includes 80 hours of foundational manufacturing skills, 100 hours of advanced CNC skills training at WPI, 40 hours of MasterCAM, 10 hours of OSHA training, and 30 hours of career readiness. Upon graduation, the students receive a 10-hour OSHA general industry card, Massachusetts Pre-Apprentice certificate, and MACWIC certification.

The program is a three-phase training strategy to prepare and place individuals in a paid job and position them along a career pathway that would culminate in certificate/degrees as CNC machine operators. The Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and leveraged funding from MassDevelopment and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

About Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

About MACWIC

MassMEP Announces New Board Chair

By Kathie Mahoney In News Releases Posted 01/18/2017

Worcester, MA – Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), an economic development and management consulting organization committed to assisting small and mid-size manufacturers compete and grow in the global economy, is pleased to announce the election by unanimous vote of the new chair of the board of directors, William Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan, who joined the MassMEP board of directors in June 2016, is Vice President, Performance Products, for FLEXcon, Inc., (Spencer, MA).

“Since joining the board, Bill has been instrumental in our strategic growth,” stated John Killam, President, MassMEP. “He is a creative and progressive leader. We look forward to working with him to continue the growth of MassMEP.”

William Sullivan

Mr. Sullivan oversees the Performance Products business team at FLEXcon, which is responsible for the development, marketing, and commercialization of high performance adhesives, functional coatings, film castings, and functional microstructures. He is author of national published articles focused on FLEXcon’s success in creating Sharklet™, a functional microstructure that prevents the growth of bacteria through a unique microscopic design. Mr. Sullivan’s expertise is helping companies bring their concepts and ideas to life and then commercializing them.

“I am pleased to be named director of the MassMEP board,” said Sullivan. “This organization provides critical resources that help manufacturers improve processes, learn new techniques, and increase their knowledge about the latest trends in the manufacturing industry.”

About Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

About FLEXcon

FLEXcon Company, Inc. is a global leader in coated and laminated films and adhesives used in graphics applications, manufactured goods and new products. For over 60 years, FLEXcon has provided a collaborative, consultative approach to deliver unique solutions that help customers achieve better business results. FLEXcon is a trusted partner to a wide range of companies from printers and fabricators to engineers and designers developing products for existing and emerging markets. Headquartered in Spencer, Mass., the company has operations throughout North America and Europe with distribution worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.flexcon.com/, follow FLEXcon on Twitter @FLEXcon, or call 1-508-885-8200.

More than 750 educated through training programs

By Kathie Mahoney In News Releases Posted 12/12/2016

Two Central Massachusetts training programs have completed educating employees at 17 different manufacturing companies, creating 40 new jobs and retaining 32 employees as a result.

The programs funded by the Workforce Training Fund Program managed by the Commonwealth Corp. offered education with the goal of updating the skills of the companies’ workforces. The trainings were coordinated by the Central MA Workforce Investment Board in partnership with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which provided instruction. Topics ranged from basic manufacturing skills to leadership training, job safety and included more specific programs such as geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.

The participating manufacturers completed a total of 96 trainings and trained 779 employees over the course of the project. According to data collected by MassMEP, there were positive results for the manufacturers.

Increased sales: $4,574,000
Jobs created: 403
Jobs retained: 32
Cost savings: $1,384,075

The companies that participated were:

Southbridge Sheet Metal
INCOM
David Packard Co.
Dexter-Russell
G&F Industries
United Lens
H.T. Machine
Magnetic Technologies
Schott North America
Swissturn
T & D Specialties
Eaton-Wrightline
ECM Plastics/A. Schulman
Prematech
Kinefac
Stellar Industries
Primetals Technologies

Jim Laliberte from Primetals Technologies said in a statement that these trainings are important, especially as companies face replacing significant portions of their workforce in the coming years.

“A shortage of adequately skilled workers in the U.S. is a problem faced by most companies and could compromise the country’s economic competitiveness if left unaddressed,” Laliberte said in a statement.

You can read the original article on WBJournal.com.

Lean in the Fast Lane

By Kathie Mahoney In Videos Posted 12/07/2016

Join a Race Car “Pit Crew”

Learn the Three Keys to Sustaining Your Continuous Improvement Gains

MassMEP’s Bauer Appointed to Mass Workforce Board Association Executive Committee

By Kathie Mahoney In News Releases Posted 10/13/2016

Worcester, MA – At the Massachusetts Workforce Board Association Joint Summer Meeting, Ted Bauer, Director Workforce Development Strategies at MassMEP, was appointed to the Association’s Executive Committee. Secretary Ronald Walker, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, was in attendance.

Ted Bauer serves on the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board(CMWIB) and also chairs the Career Center committee. Mr. Bauer has been involved with the CMWIB for over nine years.

The Massachusetts Workforce Board Association is a business-led organization that represents the members of the 16 Massachusetts regional workforce boards, and provides leadership in developing a collective vision of the workforce development system in the Commonwealth. The Association’s members include employers, representatives of labor, higher education, business and industry. Donald Gillis serves as its Executive Director.

The Massachusetts Workforce Board Association’s mission is to provide Workforce Investment Board members and workforce partners, through their Association representatives, with an independent vehicle to:
Analyze, develop, and promote a collective vision of the workforce development system,
Take initiative in developing recommendations for the design of a user friendly, market driven workforce system,
Share ideas on innovative responses to problems in coordinating the activities of the workforce system,
Discuss and build consensus for responses to initiatives from state agencies,
Develop strategies to increase the support and participation from the business and labor communities in WIB activities,
Take formal unified action on issues of common concern, and
Support and strengthen the development of WIBs’ and their partners’ capacity in each region.

“Ted Bauer brings decades of experience representing Massachusetts’ manufacturers and will be an asset to the Association,” said Stan Usovicz, Association Chair. Added Don Gillis, “Mr. Bauer’s skills will help the Association better respond to the needs of the next generation of manufacturers. We welcome him aboard.”

“MassMEP is honored to be selected for the Massachusetts Workforce Board and to have the opportunity to provide insight to key policy decision makers on the workforce needs of the manufacturing companies in the Commonwealth.” stated John Killam, President of MassMEP.

Posts Tagged: manufacturing

Building a Strategic Marketing Plan Primed for Growth & Marketing Tools that every Manufacturer Should Leverage