Manufacturing Update May 2023

IES News

2023 FEDTEX is being hosted at North Carolina State University McKimmon Conference Center on May 23 -24

The Federal and Defense Textile Summit (FEDTEX), is an opportunity to connect federal agency clothing and individual equipment buyers with US textile manufacturers, textile supply chain suppliers, cut and sew contractors, research and development (R&D) facilities, testing labs and academic resources to facilitate open communication with DoD and Federal agencies. Learn more about FEDTEX »

NCMEP Recognizes Manufacturing Leaders at the North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, MFGCON 23

The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina, announced the winners of the 2023 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at the closing event of the 2023 North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, MFGCON. The NCMEP award program recognizes manufacturers’ commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, proven by outstanding performance in manufacturing excellence, sustainable manufacturing, innovation, workforce development and economic development/developing markets. View the 2023 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership award winners »

RECAP: MFGCON 23

MFGCON 2023 recently concluded and it was an eventful conference that brought together 470 business leaders and manufacturers from across North Carolina’s manufacturing industry. It was an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn about the industry’s latest trends, innovations and challenges. Here’s a recap of what went down at MFGCON 2023 »

RECAP: Building a Collaborative Manufacturing Ecosystem In Support of DoD

On April 27th the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) and NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) Defense Industry Initiatives in partnership with the Business High Point Chamber of Commerce, Visit High Point and Heroes Center Veterans Support Camp, hosted the Building a Collaborative Manufacturing Ecosystem In Support of the Department of Defense (DoD)” event in High Point, North Carolina. Read about the event »

New Episode: NCMEP Clocking In – Voices of North Carolina Manufacturing

In the May episode of Clocking In, Phil Mintz interviews Chris Chung the Chief Executive Officer of EDPNC. Phil and Chris discuss reshoring jobs back to America, how geopolitical instability threatens US supply chains, North Carolina’s economic development and more. Listen to the episode »

Four Common Mistakes Companies Make When Implementing a QMS

Quality management systems (QMS) are essential for companies looking to streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction and comply with regulations. Implementing a QMS, however, is no easy task. Many companies make mistakes that can derail the effectiveness of their quality management system. Here are four common mistakes companies make when implementing a QMS »

Mexican Food and Mental Health

Read about how workplace safety programs should consider incorporating mental health awareness as a topic alongside physical safety measures to ensure the safety of workers and their coworkers.

Facility Upgrades Help Cummins-Meritor’s Morganton Facility Reach New Heights

As a business grows and product demand increases, expanding and upgrading existing manufacturing facilities to meet production and workforce needs becomes necessary. Manufacturing companies often consider expanding their facilities to increase production capacity, improve efficiency and reduce costs but in a tight economy, workforce issues also need to be prioritized. Upgrades to facility design, lighting, workspaces, restroom facilities, modernizing equipment and providing training are key to successful workforce retention and production expansion. Upgrading a manufacturing facility requires a significant investment. One North Carolina manufacturing facility realized that to meet new opportunities on a challenging timeline, it would need to partner with an organization with a track record of excellence. Read the full success story »

Manufacturing Solutions Center New Facility Grand Opening

North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership member Manufacturing Solutions Center, in Conover, North Carolina celebrated the grand opening of their new building, Manufacturing Solutions Center II, expansion project on March 30, 2023. Manufacturing Solutions Center Director Jeff Neuville, Catawba Valley Community College President Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, Conover Mayor Kyle Hayman, Whiskbroom Executive Ingram Walters, N.C. House Representative Jay Adams and members of the community project participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Manufacturing Solutions Center Special Projects Director Tony Whitener cut the ribbon at the public opening of the MSC II building. Read More »

Employee Spotlight Interview: Angela Barger

Angela Barger is an Improvement Specialist at NC State University Industry Expansions (IES), where she assists organizations pursuing environmental management systems registration to achieve their goals through coaching and mentoring. She also performs training and internal audits for the ISO 14001 standard. Before joining IES, Angela served as manager of the NC DEQ Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) for 15 years delivering training and assistance on environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and a wide range of other environmental and sustainability topics. She also worked as a permit engineer with NC DEQ’s Division of Air Quality. She has two Bachelor of Science degrees from NC State University in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College (now University) in General Studies with a concentration in pre-engineering. She supports the next generation of scientists and engineers in her spare time by serving as the Sr. Volunteer Coordinator and Planning Committee member for the FIRST Robotics Competition in North Carolina. Find out more about Angela Barger »

Save the Date(s)

FEDTEX SUMMIT

May 23-24, 2023 | Raleigh, NC

The FEDTEX Summit connects US Department of Defense and federal agency clothing and textiles, individual equipment and organizational equipment buyers and requirements officials with manufacturing, supply chain, research and development, testing, workforce development and academic resources from across the southeast United States. Read more about FEDTEX supports the strong textile legacy in North Carolina »

Upcoming Industry Expansion Solutions Webinars

Timeout for Safety

May 17, 2023 | Join Here

Join us for the upcoming Timeout for Safety virtual discussion sessions. 30-minute sessions are open forums so whether you want to inquire about safety topics or just want to pop in and say “Hello!” all are welcome! Additionally, everyone is encouraged to bring questions and ideas to discuss with fellow safety professionals in an informal but informative session.

Featured Courses

OSHA 3085 Principles of Scaffolding
June 6 – 8 | Raleigh, NC

In this comprehensive course, you’ll learn the ins and outs of proper scaffolding construction and use, including best practices for inspection, assembly, and disassembly. With expert instruction and hands-on training, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to identify and mitigate potential hazards, keeping your team safe and your project on track.

OSHA 500 Trainer Course for Construction
July 11 – 14 | Irmo, SC

24-Hour Hazardous Materials Technician for Emergency Response
July 11 -13 | Raleigh, NC

Gain the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to hazardous material incidents and protect both yourself and the public.

8-Hour Hands-On HAZWOPER Refresher
July 13 | Raleigh, NC