Overview of the MEP Center Benchmarking System Purpose Nexus Associates has developed and implemented a performance benchmarking system for the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP). This benchmarking project, now in its fourth year, provides participating manufacturing extension centers with key measures of their internal performance relating to service delivery. By comparing their own performance to the performance of similar centers, participants are able to identify potential areas for improvement, helping centers deliver services more efficiently according to their objectives. Just about 30 centers are currently participating in this benchmarking project which promises to have a major impact on the management of manufacturing extension centers nationwide. On-line Reporting System Participating centers use an on-line reporting system to submit their quarterly benchmarking data and to gain access to the benchmarking reports. There are several key advantages to this web-based approach: Data validation procedures - Web-based data submission allows the advantage of data validation. Validation helps centers catch errors and inconsistencies in their data. This enhances the quality of all of the data to make the benchmarking reports even more accurate. Before data are accepted, they undergo a series of checks that are designed to flag potential data problems. Customizable reports - Our interactive web-based reporting system also allows for report customization. A center can view its performance relative to all other centers or choose its own comparison group along different characteristics. For example, centers that broker services can compare themselves only to other broker-model centers in addition to comparing themselves to the entire pool of centers. Also, users can generate reports containing ANY number and ANY combination of consecutive quarters. This allows users to match the time periods of other available management information and to compensate for seasonal variations in the data. Fast feedback - Speed is yet another advantage of this online benchmarking system. Reports are available within 24 hours after all quarterly data are submitted. Fast feedback allows centers to better utilize the information in the benchmarking reports and enables centers to make more timely changes in their operations. Confidentiality Only participating centers have access to the collected data and resulting measures. (Each participating center receives a unique username and password, which are required to access the Benchmarking areas of the website.) Furthermore, participating centers are not referred to by name in the reporting system. Instead, centers are identified only by randomly assigned code letters. This allows centers to remain anonymous even within the group of participants. (NIST does not have access to the data on individual participating centers.) Demonstration Follow the links below to get a better idea of how the project works. You will be able to see how our members submit data and generate various benchmarking reports.

View data definitions

View on-line data-entry form

Generate sample benchmarking reports

Interested? Still want to know more? Contact us at (617) 489-0311 or mail@nexus-associates.com

*** Also, you can find reports, evaluations, and economic impact studies relevant to the
management of Manufacturing Extension Centers at www.nexus-associates.com/article.html

Participating Centers Alabama Technology Network; Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology; Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Arkansas Manufacturing Extension Network; Connecticut State Technology Extension Program; Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence; Hawaii Manufacturing Extension Partnership; High Technology of Rochester, Inc.; Hudson Valley Technology Development Center; Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center; Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Lake Erie Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Long Island Forum for Technology; Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership; MANTEC, Inc.; Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center; New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership; New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership; NY Industrial Technology Assistance Corporation; Northeasten Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center; Plastics Technology Deployment Center; Puerto Rico Manufacturing Extension, Inc.; South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center; Virginia's A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Western NY Technology Development Center, Inc.; Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership