Slimmed-Down Services

Dec. 21, 2004

What would a two-thirds cut to the fiscal 2004 budget of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership likely mean for the MEP centers and for small manufacturers? According to estimates provided by Livonia, Mich.-based The Modernization Forum, the MEP's trade association, in the short term the centers likely would try to keep their operations alive during 2004 -- albeit at drastically reduced levels -- in the hope that funding would be restored in the fiscal year 2005 budget. The Modernization Forum estimates that:

  • Two-thirds of MEP center employees would be laid off, with 11,275 fewer manufacturers served;
  • Fees for services would increase;
  • MEP centers would serve more larger manufacturers to generate fees;
  • Smaller U.S. manufacturers would lose $1.8 billion in sales and $446 million in cost savings; would not invest $649 million in modernization; and would lay off or not hire 28,000 workers.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!