The impact of manufacturing on America can be seen in the good jobs it provides, the strength of the economy, and the products built in communities around the nation that enable and enrich our everyday lives. We celebrate manufacturing’s impact and the MEP centers across the country working alongside small and medium-sized manufacturers to make an impact on their people and operations.

Manufacturing Day falls on Friday, October 4th this year.

Edge Factor tells stories of extraordinary people. Impact is a collection of insights from the leaders we met along the way.

Have you ever thought about what you can do in your company, in your town, in your school? Consider how YOU might participate in Manufacturing Day this year. Go to mfgday.com to see how you can impact your community.

Kay-Jay Products, Inc. is on a mission to “trigger” changes in the way CMM inspections are peformed. “Today’s CMM inspections no longer require the use of expensive, precise clamps, plates and complex fixtures,” according to Kay-Jay co-owner, Catherine Phillips. “Use of glue and tape should also be a thing of the past.”

This family-owned, tooling and injection molding manufacturer in Macomb County Michigan is the latest manufacturer featured in the Heroes of American Manufacturing video series. What started as one toolmaker in his garage, has grown into a 45 person company with a 70,000 square foot facility making prototype and low-volume production products for clients in medical, consumer packaging, automotive, and safety markets throughout the world. Learn more about how they successfully handled the recession and innovated into new markets with the help of their local MEP—the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (MEP) works with U.S. manufacturers to develop new products, identify new customers and reduce costs.

“If you think it’s the old Ford assembly line, you haven’t been staying in touch with manufacturing. Manufacturing has a home for almost everyone …” Listen to the case that this manufacturing leader makes for innovation and manufacturing careers. Based on the Heroes of American Manufacturing video featuring Omega Plastics—a family-owned, tooling and injection molding manufacturer in Michigan and how they successfully handled the recession and innovated into new markets with the help of their local MEP.

Karen Converse of New Mexico MEP talks about how the organization helps small and medium-sized businesses across the state reduce costs and increase revenue.