Nico Thomas

Manufacturers Identify Top Challenges They Expect to Face

October 14, 2022

When Nico asked me if I wanted to collaborate on this year’s challenges blog, my second thought after agreeing to the idea was a scene from the 2007 film “Music

MEP National Network by the Numbers: Industry Highlights

August 10, 2021

This is the first in a series of blogs examining the sectoral composition of the MEP National Network TM client project activity. The MEP National Network has

Preparing for a New Decade of U.S. Manufacturing

February 5, 2020

Each new year brings about a period of reflection, where one can think back on the path that the previous year took us on. The coming year represents an even

The MEP National Network™ Connects with Minority Owned Manufacturers

November 19, 2019

Earlier this year, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, celebrated its 50th anniversary . The recognition

Understanding Manufacturer’s Challenges Entering the New Year

December 19, 2018

Over the last few months, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program has been commemorating our 30 th anniversary. The Program has enjoyed taking a

30 Years of Advancing U.S. Manufacturing: An MEP National Network Infographic

December 10, 2018

As you may have heard, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year . It’s got me thinking about that

INFOGRAPHIC: The Facts About Manufacturing

March 1, 2018

There’s a very old parable, thought to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, of six blind (or blind-folded) men asked to describe an elephant. 1 They

The Geography of Manufacturing: The Case of MEP and Rural Manufacturers

January 31, 2018

There’s an apocryphal conversation between Hemingway and Fitzgerald where Hemingway observes that the difference between the rich and others is that they have

Challenge Forecasting for Very Small Manufacturers

November 19, 2015

Recently there has been an increasing appetite for information and results around working with the smallest manufacturers. Not just the generally defined small

Painting a Picture with Data

September 9, 2014

With advances in technology such as social media, innovative information systems, and sophisticated tracking systems, organizations are gathering information