(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- The 51 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers that make up the MEP National Network work to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) within the United States. Although each MEP center operates independently and caters to the needs of its local manufacturing community, they share a common mission: assisting manufacturers, in various ways, to improve and succeed in today’s dynamic business environment.

Officially launched on June 1, 2023, the Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network (SCOIN) expands the MEP National Network’s scope from working primarily with individual companies to taking a more comprehensive approach to manufacturing supply chains. The initiative will help establish new MEP service offerings to provide manufacturers with what they need to improve existing supply chain networks and fill gaps in the supply chain. SCOIN will:

• Map the capabilities and interconnections within manufacturing supply chains.

• Scale up and enhance the impact of supplier scouting services that help organizations source domestic products and expand their capabilities.

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