The NMEP is one of 57 Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers nationwide equipped to assist manufacturers with their evolving needs of Continuous Improvement, Technology Acceleration, Supplier Development, Sustainability and Workforce. Solutions are offered through a combination of direct assistance from staff and outside consultants. MEP centers serve all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and are linked through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. The centers are funded by federal, state, local, and private resources thus making it possible for even the smallest firms to tap into the expertise of manufacturing and business specialists who have extensive experience on manufacturing floors and in plant operations.