July 1, 2005
Purdue adopts program to advance Hoosier manufacturing
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program is the new manager of the Indiana Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center, a federal and state joint venture that assists Indiana manufacturers in improving manufacturing quality and productivity.
|
The center, which had been managed by the Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corp., was transferred in February to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. After a strategic review of economic development in Indiana’s manufacturing sector, the economic development corporation requested that the manufacturing center merge with Purdue's Technical Assistance Program, or TAP.
David Snow, Indiana Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center's interim director, said the merger makes sense for the center, known in manufacturing circles as MEP.
"This merger is a strategic initiative of the state economic development corporation and speaks well of the corporation's emphasis on assisting our state's largest economic contributing sector – manufacturing," Snow said. "TAP, a respected and well branded name in manufacturing assistance, now will provide a broader range of economic development assistance to Indiana's manufacturers.
"Our staff, partners and programs will continue to serve every major industrial region of the state in order to support the advancement of manufacturing companies that wish to remain globally competitive."
David McKinnis, TAP director, said his program is uniquely qualified to oversee the manufacturing center.
"Since 1986, TAP has provided training and assistance through more than 6,000 projects with Indiana businesses, health-care providers, not-for-profit organizations and governmental units," McKinnis said. "Our mission is to strengthen the Indiana economy and improve the quality of life for Indiana citizens. To do that, we provide assessment or fee-based training and implementation services on lean manufacturing, quality and environmental management systems, computer networking, marketing and human-resource issues, to name a few areas. We also will continue to offer up to 40 hours of free consulting on product development and business management."
TAP, whose budget has more than doubled to $3.4 million annually, expects to conduct about $1 million in training for as many as 500 Hoosier manufacturers during the next 12 months.
TAP also supports manufacturers by linking them to technically savvy students for part-time employment, class projects and summer internships. Almost 900 student-interns have been placed to date.
The annual High-Tech Job Fair for Indiana Companies, also administered by TAP, puts companies with job offerings in touch with prospective employees who are Purdue graduates with specific technical skills. Most students will complete their studies in the fields of agriculture, engineering, management, science or technology.
The Indiana manufacturing center is a partnership among the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the State of Indiana and manufacturing companies. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is expected to formally approve the merger with TAP in approximately 30 days. TAP also works closely with manufacturing centers in 50 other locations nationwide.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Sources: David McKinnis, (765) 494-6258, mckinnis@purdue.edu
David Snow: (317) 635-3058, davesnow@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web sites:
Purdue MEP
Indiana Economic Development Corporation
PHOTO CAPTION:
Jim Handy (left) of Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program conducts a lean manufacturing training exercise with Matt Comstock (middle) and Mike Mattingly (right) of O'Neal Steel Inc. in Shelbyville, Ind. Now that TAP oversees the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center, TAP expects to serve as many as 500 companies like O'Neal Steel in the next 12 months. Formerly administered by the Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corp., the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center helps Hoosier companies improve manufacturing quality and productivity. (Center for Instructional Services photo/John Underwood.)
A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2005/TAP-training.jpg
To the News Service home page