WMEP Facts

The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) is a nonprofit consulting organization committed to the growth and success of Wisconsin’s small and midsize manufacturers. WMEP brings best practices and world-class performance strategies to help manufacturers drive growth, profitability and global competitiveness.

Since 1998, WMEP has provided services to more than 4,000 manufacturers.
WMEP is an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a national network of 59 centers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Download the "About WMEP Fact Sheet" in .pdf format

Our Mission

WMEP’s mission is to elevate Wisconsin manufacturing to be the best in the world. We accomplish our mission by:

Providing hands-on services to Wisconsin’s small and mid-size manufacturers.
Advocacy to raise public awareness about the critical importance of manufacturing to Wisconsin’s economy now and in the future.

These efforts include industry studies, seminars, publications and our annual Manufacturing Matters! Conference.

Next Generation Manufacturing Consulting Services

Next Generation Manufacturing refers to a framework of success attributes essential for manufacturing growth and global competitiveness. In 2008, WMEP commissioned a study to measure the progress of state manufacturers in reaching the world-class performance benchmarks of Next Generation Manufacturing; this study is being refreshed nationally for 2011.

As a result of this landmark study, WMEP offers services to advance manufacturers in these areas:

Customer-Focused Innovation - delivering services and products before your customers know they’re needed.
Systemic Continuous Improvement -establishing a culture that sets new performance standards every day.
Advanced Talent Management - the ability to harness the full power of the modern manufacturing workforce.
Global Engagement - taking advantage of the global market for goods and services.
Extended Enterprise Management - making supply changes that are strong and profitable for everyone.
Sustainable Products & Processes - reducing the organization’s environmental footprint and improve operating performance.

Our Staff

WMEP’s staff of 25 manufacturing specialists – industry veterans with more than 20 years of experience – has deep expertise and practical knowledge across a broad range of industries. Our consultants are accomplished professionals with demonstrated success in leading change and transformation in small and midsize manufacturing firms. WMEP’s locations in Madison, Brookfield and Appleton, serve a wide geographic region that includes 41 counties in southern, central and eastern Wisconsin. Northwest Wisconsin is served by WMEP’s sister center, the Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center (NWMOC).

Partners

WMEP has partnered with a number of public and private organizations to launch new services and accelerate the adoption of best practices in exports, sustainability, new product innovation and e-business technologies.

Partners include the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC, formerly Commerce), state and regional economic development organizations, the Wisconsin Technical College System, The University of Wisconsin, labor organizations and private service providers.

WMEP Funding

WMEP is funded by fees generated by consulting services and public investment from the WEDC and The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). This support allows WMEP to serve nearly 900 small and midsize manufacturers annually.

2010 Economic Impact

Every year, WMEP customers are surveyed by an independent firm to assess the economic impact of WMEP’s services. During FY 2011, WMEP services generated an economic impact of $130 million with 1,009 jobs created and retained.
Our customers reported:

$83 million in increased/retained sales
$16 million in cost savings
$31 million in investment impact, including new plant and equipment

Since 1998, WMEP has helped to generate $1.7 billion in economic impact and create and save 14,000 state manufacturing jobs.

Return on Investment

WMEP takes its responsibility for public investment seriously with an unrelenting focus on measuring results.

WMEP delivers an outstanding return on investment for Wisconsin manufacturers and taxpayers.

At a time when high-wage jobs are desperately needed, the state’s investment in WMEP created and saved 1,009 manufacturing jobs.

Public funds invested in WMEP:

Improve the competitiveness of Wisconsin manufacturers
Fuel economic growth
Generate state tax revenues and bring federal dollars to Wisconsin
Protect and grow high-wage manufacturing jobs.

Leadership

WMEP’s 21-member Board of Directors includes a cross-section of leaders from industry, education, government and labor organizations. The majority of the Board consists of manufacturing presidents and CEOs of small and midsize manufacturing firms.

Buckley Brinkman joined WMEP as Executive Director in June 2011. Brinkman brings more than 25 years of transformational manufacturing leadership to WMEP, with a breadth of experience in helping companies drive growth, world-class competitiveness and performance excellence. Experienced in lean, Six Sigma, supply chain management and turnaround planning, he has led efforts to save dozens of operations in the U.S. by finding new ways to compete.

Manufacturing Matters! Conference

WMEP sponsors the annual Manufacturing Matters! Conference, the premier educational and networking event for Wisconsin manufacturers. Next year’s conference is scheduled for May 9, 2012.