image: From left are: Jeremy Forsberg, UTA assistant vice president for Research; Rodney Reddic, TMAC interim executive director; Rob Gorham, executive director of manufacturing initiatives, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and SecureAmerica Institute executive director; Monica Cortez, TMAC director of operations; Scott Terry, director of community and small business initiatives, SecureAmerica Institute; and Kiley Wren, TEES executive director of office of strategic business development, and SecureAmerica Institute executive associate director. view more
Credit: TMAC
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for increasing collaboration to expand the aerospace defense manufacturing community in Texas.
UTA holds the cooperative agreement for Texas with the National Institution of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), which provides the funding for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), the MEP affiliate in Texas. TMAC connects manufacturers with technology, operations opportunities and solutions needed to compete in the global marketplace.
TEES powers a public-private research collaborative called the Secure America Institute (SAI). This institute converges industry, government and academia to integrate advancements in U.S. manufacturing resilience particularly within the U.S. defense industrial base.
“Working with our strategic partners at TMAC will enhance the development of the aerospace defense manufacturing community through the application of advanced technology and workforce training,” said Scott Terry, SAI director of community and small business initiatives. “By infusing smart manufacturing tools and processes into the manufacturing industrial base, we can solidify Texas’ leadership role in the global manufacturing economy.”
SAI and TMAC are both working to empower the Texas manufacturing industrial base by introducing and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies and workforce training. This will help improve overall throughput, quality and delivery lead time for Texas manufacturers, which, in turn, improves their profitability and sustainability.
“TMAC will work with TEES to become an integral partner in driving the development of advanced manufacturing technology and workforce training for the aerospace and defense industrial base across the state,” said Rodney Reddic, TMAC interim executive director. “The partnership with TEES will allow TMAC to reach additional manufacturers across the state through the many workshops and seminars sponsored jointly. TMAC will provide boots on the ground field staff support for the delivery of advanced manufacturing technology services, cybersecurity services and workforce training.”
Through this agreement, SAI and TMAC will promote and host events for advanced manufacturing technology and workforce training across the state of Texas focused on the aerospace manufacturing community. The agency will also partner with various entities, including K-12 schools, colleges, universities and industry partners to drive the development of advanced manufacturing technology workforce training to help create the aerospace industrial base workforce of the future.
TEES is an active member of Manufacturing USA through key positions in America Makes, Advanced Robotics Manufacturing, BioFabUSA, Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals and the Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment Institute.
About the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
As an engineering research agency of Texas, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) performs quality research driven by world problems, strengthens and expands the state’s workforce through educational partnerships and training, and develops and transfers technology to industry. TEES partners with academic institutions, governmental agencies, industries and communities to solve problems to help improve quality of life, promote economic development and enhance educational systems.
About TMAC
TMAC has worked with thousands of Texas organizations since its inception in 1995. TMAC is the official representative of the MEP National Network and NIST MEP in The State of Texas. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. TMAC’s mission is to improve the global competitiveness of the Texas economy by working to grow the extended manufacturing enterprise. TMAC delivers hands-on business management, technology and operations solutions to a wide range of businesses, including manufacturing, distribution, logistics and others. TMAC is an organization that accelerates profitable growth by developing and improving profits, products, processes, technologies and people.
About NIST MEP
The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.
Focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and its 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at nearly 385 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.
In 2021, the MEP National Network generated $26.20 in new sales growth and $34.50 in new client investment. This translates into $3.9 billion in new sales. During this same time, for every $1,193 of federal investment, the Network created or retained one manufacturing job.
Written by Cheryl Rybka