Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing: Manufacturing USA® and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers can facilitate collaborations with Manufacturing USA institutes so their manufacturing clients can draw directly on Manufacturing USA facilities, expertise and connections. The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS), an agency of the Institute for Public Service, was recently cited for its aerospace composites work. UT CIS is home to Tennessee's MEP Center.

A UT CIS manufacturing client wants to design, develop and test aftermarket auto seats using its material expertise and composite manufacturing technology. In addition, the client plans to bring the next generation of composite fabrics to the aerospace industry.

The organization contacted UT CIS to learn what resources were available to help the company better understand the impact performance of the material during an accident.

UT CIS and NIST MEP contacted the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI, a DOE-sponsored Manufacturing USA institute) to explore engineering resources that could support the client’s objectives.

By nurturing collaborative relationships, UT CIS established a project team with representatives from the MEP client, IACMI, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a third-party contributor to work together on the client’s manufacturing objectives.

Learn more about MEP's efforts to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and see how other MEP Centers across the country are collaborating with Manufacturing USA.