Process Improvement

South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP)

The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership is part of a nationwide network established by the US department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to assist small and mid-sized manufacturers.

SCMEP provides smaller manufacturers access to the types of assistance that will keep them competitive in the growing worldwide marketplace. SCMEP’s comprehensive assistance includes business management and financial solutions, workforce development and training assistance, plant layout and process improvements, innovative technology evaluations, environmental management systems and IOS implementation.

SCMEP’s employees have extensive manufacturing experience in a wide variety of manufacturing industries, providing them the skills to analyze, recommend and implement improvements that strengthen the competitiveness of SC Manufacturers.

To learn more about SCMEP please contact Larry Jolly at P.O. Box 6267
Greenville, SC 29606-6267 Phone:(864) 288-5687 ljolly@scmep.org

Upstate Lean Alliance

The Upstate Lean Alliance is a consortium of Upstate manufacturers formed in January 2002 to facilitate sharing of best practices in Lean Manufacturing. The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping South Carolina manufacturers resolve business and supply chain issues, facilitates the Alliance. Chris Klasing of JCK Associates, a Greenville Consultant, coordinates the Alliance.

Charter members of the Alliance are Alfmeier, Day International, Michelin, Prettl Electric, Robert Bosch, Rockwell Automation, Timken, and ZF Lemforder.

The Alliance holds monthly “events” at member plants, typically observing Lean techniques at the host plant or holding a seminar on an aspect of Lean. Membership in the Alliance is open to Upstate companies, subject to acceptance by the current members. A candidate company must have started its Lean journey, be willing to host events and to participate in events at other plants, agree not to disclose observations outside the Alliance, and pay Alliance dues promptly.

To apply for membership, companies should contact Chris Klasing of JCK Associates at (864) 213-4202 or e-mail JCKAssoc@bellsouth.net.