New statewide initiative aims to address issues facing manufacturers

The new Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, launched by the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP), means help is on the way for small to mid-sized manufacturers to help them tackle issues they face. The initiative will give manufacturing companies with 500 or fewer employees access to resources, expertise, and grant funding in four key areas — supply chain, cybersecurity, advanced materials, and Industry 4.0 — with NY MEPs around the state playing a role in providing those resources. TDO, the regional NY MEP for Central New York — which includes Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Madison, and Cortland counties — will focus on the supply chain portion of the initiative, says James D’Agostino, MEP Center Director at TDO. The initiative will break down into three parts at TDO, he notes. “We developed a supply-chain assessment took,” he says of the first part. The nine-point assessment is designed to tell manufacturers where their strengths and weaknesses in the supply chain are and suggest corrective actions. The second part of the grant initiative helps companies take that correction action. “With the grant, we’re able to do some of that follow-up work with the manufacturers,” D’Agostino says. So, it’s not just a list of things a manufacturer needs to fix but help with designing and implementing a solution. The third segment of the initiative is exciting, because it’s very Central New York focused, D’Agostino says. The TDO MEP center participates in the nationwide MEP supplier scouting network, where companies reach out to their local MEP when they are looking for a new supplier or a supplier that meets certain criteria. As those results filter into TDO, D’Agostino says, “we’re going to look toward Central New York first and foremost,” to see if any local companies fit the bill. “For us, it’s a very New York-centric supplier scouting service,” he says. For local companies that match with a manufacturer, it means more sales for that local company and maybe even some job creation, he adds. “We’re happy to play the role of matchmaker for a lot of those opportunities.” Mohawk Valley Community College’s Advanced Institute for Manufacturing (AIM), which serves as the Mohawk Valley region’s MEP, will help companies address cybersecurity needs through in-person assessments by professionals who specialize in working with small and medium-sized businesses. “Cybersecurity should be a top priority for every manufacturer,” AIM Director Cory Albrecht said in a press release announcing the initiative. “It’s critical to ensure you’re meeting government requirements, keeping your growth on track, and protecting your business and client information. The cybersecurity framework provided through this initiative has the flexibility to be tailored to different industries in a simple, easy-to-digest format.” The program will provide grants of $6,000 in project funding for phase-one cybersecurity assessments along with access to in-person events across the state and educational webinars and online training videos for companies that wish to self-assess. The Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology (AMT), which serves as the Southern Tier’s MEP, will tackle the Industry 4.0 component of the initiative, which includes grants of up to $20,000 for direct technical assistance with a minimum manufacturer match of 50 percent. “Industry 4.0, put simply, is the use of advanced technologies – such as automation, data exchange, and artificial intelligence — to create smarter, more connected, and efficient industrial processes,” AMT Executive Director Carol Miller said. “Today’s manufacturing landscape comes with challenges ranging from workforce shortages and supply-chain disruptions to unyielding global competition. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, manufacturers find themselves in a race to adopt and leverage these innovations or risk falling behind.” TechEx, a working group for manufacturers from diverse industries for collaboration, exchanging ideas, and more, is also available through the program. Finally, FuzeHub, the statewide center for NY MEP, will lead the Advanced Materials Technical Assistance Program, which provides grant funding opportunities for manufacturers to access the guidance and support needed to replace materials in their products with more sustainable options. “New regulations targeting waste reduction and encouraging the use of sustainable materials create both challenges and opportunities,” FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc said. “As manufacturers deepen their understanding of the new requirements and potential replacement materials, they can often accelerate implementation through access to expertise and grant funding. This technical-assistance program helps manufacturers address exactly those needs.” The three elements of the assistance program include training, a manufacturing-readiness accelerator, and grant funding of up to $20,000 with a one-to-one matching requirement to support a 12-month project focused on adopting new, sustainable materials. More information about the initiative and each of the four programs is available online at: newyorkmep.org/adv-mfg-initiative.