CDME and our MEP Program Featured in Industry Week Article

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Dr. David B. Williams was interviewed by Industry Week for their latest edition in an article entitled, "Why Universities are Important to Rebuilding US Manufacturing". The article describes a domestic manufacturing culture that is heavy on historical and current capabilities prowess but lean on talent.

Several factors have contributed to the fragility of our manufacturing climate, including a decline in qualified people. The OSU's College of  Engineering ranks among the nation's top institutions for engineering studies and is committed to "educating the next generation of manufacturing workers" as explained by Williams in the article. And while an average of 2,000 students graduate from the College of Engineering and enter the workforce, CDME partners with their employers, and the like, to sharpen these companies' competitive edges and drive economic growth. This revolving door of sorts illustrates the movement towards regaining major traction in American manufacturing with the help of US universities.

CDME has helped our members and MEP clients access the technical and physical assets of the university and surrounding research community. Our MEP program is especially useful for small to medium-sized manufacturers in Ohio who benefit from our services. Through the MEP program, many value-added services are available to these manufacturers, including:

  • strategic growth planning
  • product design and innovation
  • operational analysis
  • engineering services
  • business operational support
  • business development
  • partnering and supply chain development
  • student programs

The MEP program at OSU is available through the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership.