Love staying up to date? Forward this to a friend to subscribe!

This report is brought to you in partnership with Sustainment, a market network dedicated to the success of American Manufacturing. Learn More →

💴 This Week in Manufacturing

One of the strengths (and inherent challenges) of the United States is the sheer size and diversity of the states within. For some specificity, today’s profile company covers the specifics of Arkansas’ manufacturing support system. Let’s dive in!

Today’s profile company is Arkansas MEP, based in Little Rock. While Arkansas has benefitted from new facility developments, the dozen MEP employees have focused most on recruiting. Part of their work also includes student outreach and general promotions across the state.

This week’s first podcast, from Advanced Manufacturing Now, is in lock-step with Arkansas MEP’s focus on manufacturing education and training. The second podcast, The Manufacturing Executive, discusses the viewpoint of a fourth-generation family business.

Our headlines this week highlight the importance of MEP programs like Arkansas’, critical materials recovery, scaling semiconductor manufacturing, and more.

Finally, this week’s Social Video and Fun Fact showcase recent triumphs within Arkansas manufacturing industry throughout the state.

Thanks for joining us!

P.S. Do you have a story to share about innovation at your company? We'd love to profile you! Click here (it’s free)

⚙ Manufacturing Headlines

• Novartis commits to spending $23B on US manufacturing [Supply Chain Dive]

• SiTration Working Toward Critical Minerals Recovery [North American Clean Energy]

• Arkansas MEP support rebuilding personnel [CompanyWeek]

• Safeguarding the MEP Program Is Critical to Revitalizing American Manufacturing [The Century Foundation]

• Small Manufacturers Hope to Benefit from Tariffs [Manufacturing.net]

• Semiconductors have a big opportunity—but barriers to scale remain [McKinsey]

INDUSTRIAL & EQUIPMENT

♨️ Arkansas MEP

Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions administers the state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program and has been assisting companies with their development needs since 1995.

The team of twelve supports clients statewide with the usual certifications, training, improvement programs, and more. Metals and fabrication, defense, boat building, and food industries are the major industries in the state, and make up the bulk Manufacturing Solutions’ clients, although they also work with a variety of other manufacturers.

Recently, personnel and recruiting challenges have taken precedence over internal development. Manufacturing Solutions helps with student outreach and general promotions.

Upshot: “We’re making sure we’re helping companies curate a culture and environment that is engaging and retaining those people that they can attract.”

FROM THE FEED

📱Key Tronic Expansion Announcement

🤨Did You Know?

Manufacturing accounts for

12%

of Arkansas’ total payroll jobs.

^{Source: Talk Business & Politics}

🎧 Podcasts Worth A Listen

CompanyWeek is the voice of the modern manufacturing economy, telling stories of U.S. Manufacturers to showcase workers, innovation, technology, and progress.