Maker's Memo

More Reasons for Re-Shoring

According to a recent article in Forbes, manufacturers that were intent on reducing their foreign reliance after COVID-19 supply chain disruptions have made little progress four years after the start of the pandemic. And now there is a new reason to be concerned.   A double whammy, some say, may be headed our way due…

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Get Your Financial Footing

You know us for the lean methodology consulting and workshops we offer, but did you know we also support small businesses by sponsoring partners’ workshops we believe could benefit our clients? Many of these workshops are related to business and financial management. We see time and again that cash flow management can help small businesses…

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Mfg Day 2023: Nearly 400 Students Introduced to Manufacturing

When Leo Ordoñez donned safety glasses, a yellow vest, and hearing protection for his Mfg Day 2023 tour of ABB Installation Products, the Jimmy Carter Middle School 8th-grader understood this was not an ordinary field trip. Ordoñez and his classmates learned firsthand about the products used to connect, ground, splice, terminate, and protect underground power…

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A Cog in the Wheel of New Mexico’s Space Future

New Mexico MEP is proud to be an integral part of the New Mexico Space Valley Coalition, a team of public and private entities driving America’s space industry right here in New Mexico. By working together, we are laying the foundation of a holistic approach to space commercialization and exploration that is diverse and accessible…

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USDA Grant Writing Workshops

Small businesses, solar providers, nonprofits, and others are encouraged to participate in free grant writing workshops to learn how to prepare and apply for funds from the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) and the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) programs. While the workshops are specific to these programs, participants will gain insight into the…

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Adaptation and Skills Sustain Farmington Business

Founded in 1980 by Ivan Clay and Ellis Groomer, Clay Groomer Machine Shop (CGMS) has fulfilled the San Juan Basin’s machining needs by producing quality work in a safe and timely manner. Their success has been a result of always going above and beyond customers’ expectations. Clay Groomer historically provided on-site and mobile machining, mechanical…

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New Owners Put Silver City Tile Company on Path To Growth

Within two years of purchasing Syzygy Tile Works in Silver City, Josh and Carolyn White knew they needed to expand the business to meet national and international demand for their high-end, handcrafted ceramic tiles. Josh had worked for the company for 16 years before the previous owner retired, and he quickly made improvements to shorten…

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Congratulations to Recent SBIR/STTR Awardees

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs award more than $2.5 billion in research & development investment dollars to businesses across the U.S. every year. The funds allow businesses to move their idea or innovation to commercial markets while retaining the rights to their product. Eleven federal agencies participate…

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Farmington company finds growth through expert advice

When Cody Waldroup purchased ABC Canvas in 2016 from the company’s founders, the serial entrepreneur thought the business would fit nicely into his portfolio of revenue-producing investments because the 35-year-old business was well known in Farmington for quality custom canvas, including marine products, commercial and industrial covers, and shade products. What Waldroup did not realize…

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Pandemic offered Velarde winery time to improve

When the coronavirus pandemic temporarily halted tourist traffic and shuttered restaurants and bars throughout New Mexico, Black Mesa Winery in Velarde had an inventory of wine and hard cider worth $100,000 and fewer avenues to deliver its products to customers. Winery owners Jerry and Lynda Burd were able to keep products moving out the door…

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Grow your talent stream through Mfg Day

“The manufacturing community has long struggled with finding skilled workers, citing, among other things, the misperceptions that manufacturing jobs underpay, are monotonous and involve working in dirty factories,” said Scott Dietz in a recent article. Dietz, of Catalyst Connection, an MEP Center based in Pittsburgh, continued, “With the adoption of Industry 4.0 — automation and…

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Students Invited to Help Manufacturers Solve Sustainability Challenges

New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (New Mexico MEP), in partnership with the Albuquerque chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the New Mexico Coalition of Sustainable Communities, is inviting students to offer solutions to sustainability challenges faced by the state’s manufacturers. Students will compete with one another by submitting a short video or…

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Hands-on discovery

Meet the Matterport camera. One of its superpowers is replicating your facility in digital form. By stitching together 3D scans of photos and line art, Matterport can enable you to take a virtual walk through your manufacturing space. Perhaps you’re creating a 3D demonstration of how you make your product but there is sensitive information…

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First test, then invest

Strap on a pair of augmented reality goggles and explore tech that can be applied to any manufacturing process. At New Mexico MEP’s Tech Demo Workshop, you can test new technology before investing in it. If you’re curious about implementing additive manufacturing, collaborative robots, optical sorting equipment and other tech in your facility, call us…

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Automation exploration

Would adding automation to your company improve your bottom line? What kind of tech would best boost your competitive edge? Before investing in it, explore new technology in New Mexico MEP’s Tech Demo room. NM MEP Automation Specialist Wesley Eccles can demonstrate the tech, from robotic arms and 3D printers, to quality control cameras, and…

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Help inspire New Mexico students

Help build excitement around New Mexico’s manufacturing careers. Submit your video! The education and workforce development nonprofit Bridge of Southern New Mexico, in partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department, is requesting recorded personal interviews it can share with students to build awareness about manufacturing careers. The team is particularly interested in showcasing machinists,…

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And we’re live!

It’s true, we’re back to making on-sight visits! Call us to discuss a challenge we could help you address, and we’ll schedule a time to visit your facility! And speaking of enriching in-person events, don’t miss the Fundamentals of Lean Manufacturing Public Workshop next month. Workshop participants will learn about reducing work in process, promoting quality…

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Coming Soon: Tools and Measurement Workshop

In response to New Mexico manufacturer feedback, New Mexico MEP is developing a new workshop designed to help workers become proficient in the use of tools and measurements used in manufacturing. Classes, which are expected to be offered beginning in the fall of 2021, will be hands-on and will impart the knowledge that manufacturers have…

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Workforce insights

When you want to know something, what do you do? You Google it, of course! But if you want to understand how the MEP National Network is approaching workforce development across the 50 States and Puerto Rico, what do you do? Well, you may not be able to just Google it yet – but we’re…

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Tips and Tactics for Dealing With Ransomware

Used in cyberattacks that can paralyze organizations, ransomware is malicious software that encrypts a computer system’s data and demands payment to restore access. To help organizations protect against ransomware attacks and recover from them if they happen, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published an infographic offering a series of simple tips…

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Complementary partnerships usher electronic-printer company toward growth

When Dave Keicher, vice president of Integrated Deposition Solutions (IDS), requested marketing and sales growth assistance in early 2020, New Mexico MEP saw an opportunity to innovate by adding services not typically provided by the center. IDS (https://www.idsnm.com/) is an eight-year-old electronic-printer company that uses technology commercialized from Sandia National Laboratory to embed electronics into…

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The energy efficiency payoff

Jack’s Plastic Welding enjoys a wide customer base that covers the gamut of human activity. From river rafting to the oil and gas, medical, and water industries, and everything in between, the Aztec manufacturer builds products for local customers first, and then adapts them to fit a wider market. “We often hear people comment ‘Isn’t…

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NM MEP helps Albuquerque manufacturer secure coveted ISO registration

By Finance New Mexico Before joining ACME Worldwide Enterprises 13 years ago, Managing Director Eugene Moya had worked for large companies that were registered with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). But he had never led a company through ISO registration and didn’t think ACME was big enough to warrant the investment of time and…

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OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

OSHA published a Final Rule to amend its recordkeeping regulation to remove the requirement to electronically submit to OSHA information from the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) for establishments with 250 or more employees that are required to routinely keep injury and illness records.…

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Humans Remain Integral to AI

An October 2020 report released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office offers opinions by the business and manufacturing community about Artificial Intelligence. The report,  Public Views on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Policy, is based on comments the USPTO received from 197 stakeholders, including individuals, associations, corporations and foreign IP offices in 2019…

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Funds for classroom and on-the-job training

JTIP funds classroom and on-the-job training for new jobs in expanding or relocating businesses for up to 6 months. The program reimburses 50-75% of employee wages. These trainees can be new employees, or those currently employed looking for higher-wage promotions. These funds are specifically set aside by the Legislature each year and can only be…

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A New Mexico MEP primer on safety

As we travel about the state talking with manufacturers, we find there is an uneasiness about the requirements for safety. So we offer the following outline that introduces the major elements required for most companies, starting with employer responsibilities. Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards, and comply with standards rules and regulations issued…

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Partnerships to savor

The Delicious New Mexico local food e-commerce and distribution enterprise was developed by the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation at the South Valley Economic Development Center, in partnership with Agri-Cultura Network and the Hispanic-American Institute, under grant AM170100XXXXG102 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Delicious New Mexico helps local farmers, ranchers, and food producers conduct…

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Anatomy of a collaborative

The New Mexico COVID-19 Emergency Supply Collaborative‘s success in delivering much-needed supplies to medical facilities is a story worth sharing. During the collaborative’s inception, our office was closed but NM MEP’s work kept going. MEP’s Innovation Directors (IDs) met weekly with businesses or regional partners. For example, Denise Williams was part of the Farmington group, which…

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Heartfelt gratitude

All of us at New Mexico MEP want to acknowledge the nimble and innovative contributions the following companies have made in the fight against COVID-19. A BIG THANK YOU TO: The manufacturers that have uploaded their capabilities to the NM Emergency Supply Sourcing and Manufacturing website https://www.nmcovid19.org/. That information has resulted in PPE and other…

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Website connects manufacturers and innovators with COVID-19 supply needs

A website dedicated to recruiting New Mexico suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, makers and testing-centers in the fight against COVID-19 has been launched by several of the state’s universities, research institutions and manufacturing support organizations. The website aims to quickly source, produce and test needed medical and other supplies that will bolster on-the-ground efforts to stop the…

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Website Helps Manufacturers Respond to Medical Needs

Manufacturers and Innovators Encouraged to Upload Capabilities to website at https://nmcovid19.org. A website dedicated to recruiting New Mexico suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, makers and testing-centers in the fight against COVID-19 has been launched by several of the state’s universities, research institutions and manufacturing support organizations. The website aims to quickly source, produce and test needed medical and…

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Navajo Spirit Builds on Deep Roots

Since 1984, Navajo Spirit Southwestern Wear has been creating and selling Native American-inspired clothing and craft items through retailers, gift catalogs, online sales and Indian art fairs. Today, eighty percent of revenue is generated from its retail shop in historic downtown Gallup, where eight employees cut and sew garments designed by artist Virginia Yazzie Ballenger.…

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Lean Manufacturing Workshops Help New-Hires Learn Company Culture

Process Equipment and Service Company Inc. (PESCO) has been sending its new-hire employees to lean manufacturing workshops for years. The practice has paid off, according to Craig Mayberry, PESCO’s Manager of Manufacturing Excellence.  The 50-year-old engineering, design and manufacturing company that serves the on-shore oil and natural gas industries from its Farmington headquarters is one…

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Mfg Day high notes to keep in mind for 2020

University High and Early College High students at AerSale in Roswell Drawing some 150 signups, the Advanced Manufacturing Summit marked the conclusion of New Mexico’s 7th annual Manufacturing Day. Topping the list of favorite events was the summit’s “Live White Hat Hack,” a real-time IT hacking demo that clearly illustrated vulnerabilities inherent in manufacturing processes…

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Join Mfg Day 2019!

Insight Lighting of Rio Rancho has been a Manufacturing Day participant since 2014. The maker of exterior and interior lighting products for high-end architectural projects has conducted tours of its facility for students, prospective buyers and community groups. Glenn Wright, vice president of operations, said the tours have been beneficial. “The majority of our products…

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Solving Critical Technical Issues for Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers

MEP clients who need help resolving issues with products and processes in areas such as but not limited to additive manufacturing, robotics, biosciences, calibrations, and laboratory accreditations can leverage the MEP-Assisted Technology and Technical Resource (MATTR) program. The program offers access to wide-ranging, world-class technical expertise available at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) research labs,…

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Finding the linchpin

Valley Mills has been in LaPlata, New Mexico since the owner purchased the packager of corn products from a vendor distributor in 2006. The company has been roasting yellow, white and blue corn products and delivering them ground and whole to customers via distributor. Owner Teresa Lackey later added two more distributors and expanded into…

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Opportunity in Automation — for Businesses and Workers

Albuquerque’s Build With Robots LLC (BWR) sees automation and human labor existing side by side, even in small and medium-sized businesses. The New Mexico company works with manufacturers and other businesses to enhance their productivity and competitive advantage by incorporating “collaborative robots,” or CoBots, into the labor force to perform the more monotonous tasks so…

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Albuquerque’s Theta Plate pursues tailored guidance

A second generation family-owned Albuquerque company specializing in precious metal plating, Theta Plate Inc. serves customers from all over the world. In order to access higher margin business and DoD markets, the company obtained ITAR registration and later, at the prompting of company president C. Aaron Velasquez, decided to further its defense qualifications, to include…

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PESCO’s growth story

PESCO has been producing natural gas and oil production equipment in Farmington, New Mexico since 1970. In December, 2018, the manufacturer announced that it will expand its main facility by 20,000 square feet and create up to 180 new jobs.  Over the years, the company has been steadily building a reputation for quality and service,…

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Advanced Manufacturing Summit

New Mexico MEP’s annual summit is a networking and think-tank opportunity for manufacturers, economic developers and thought leaders to discuss current issues affecting manufacturers in New Mexico. Typically held the last week of October, the event serves as the celebratory culmination of Manufacturing Day activities that take place throughout the month. Advanced Manufacturing Summit 2019…

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