Secrets for Successful ERP Implementation
We hear from clients across the state who are looking for ERP upgrades. Whether you’re looking to upgrade an old system, or implement a system for the first time, it is a challenging process. However, with adequate time invested up front, things can go much more smoothly. Selecting and implementing…
Becoming A Lean Savant Book Launch – Interview with Author Gary Conner
Two time Shingo Prize winner Gary Conner recently published his latest book, ‘Becoming a Lean Savant’. Gary is a veteran consultant having spent thirty years consulting to over 350 companies and facilitating more than 1500 project across the US and Canada. He has worked with manufacturers in…
Curious About Apprenticeships in Machining and Welding? Don’t Miss This Event!
Are you a metals manufacturer? Looking for machinists and welder fabricators? Can’t find them? Are you curious about apprenticeships? What are they? How can they help you train machinists and welder fabricators at your company? Portland Community College and the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) Training Center has…
NIST Machinery Maintenance Cost Study: Making the Business Case – We Need Your Help
Efficient machinery maintenance methods can mean the difference between a thriving profitable firm and one that loses money and sales (e.g., imagine a firm that has machines that are frequently down or one that has numerous product defects). As reported in NIST AMS 100-18, manufacturers have reported significant savings as…
Seven Tips for Continuous Improvement
If you’ve been in manufacturing for any length of time, you know that continuous improvement is both the key to success, but also difficult to sustain. That’s why OMEP hosts regular learning tours to allow manufacturers to learn from one another, gathering information, feedback, and ideas for their own…
Are Middle Market Companies Preparing for an Economic Slowdown?
The Great Recession ended in 2009 and, despite the growth that has prevailed in the decade since, many middle market business owners have been watching economic trends closely and taking steps to prepare for the time when growth stalls. While overall sentiment for the U.S. economy remains very positive, a…
New Requirements for Noncompetition Agreements in Oregon and Washington
Employers with noncompetition agreements in Oregon and Washington must take note of the changes enacted by the legislature in both states. Noncompetition provisions are restrictive covenants, which can appear on their own in an agreement but are usually part of a broader employment or nondisclosure agreement. These covenants, which restrict…
OMEP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Public Relations Services In accordance with its procurement policy, Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Inc. (OMEP) is seeking a PR firm to provide the following services: Build and present annual PR editorial calendar with publications schedules and topics, including story ideas for relevant publications; manage the scheduling of pitches, sending pitches,…
MEP Creates Critical Connections
David McFeeters-Krone introduces a concept of using the MEP network to help FLC stakeholder firms (licensees, CRADA partners, contractors) accelerate their development and marketing by tapping into the Manufacturing USA Institutes. At a gathering of the 350 federal labs, David explains how the 14 Manufacturing USA institutes are positioned…
File for the Oregon Food Processing Property Tax Exemption Before Year-End
Qualified machinery and equipment (M&E) placed in service in Oregon during 2018 may be eligible for a five-year property tax exemption, applicable to tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2019. Real and personal property used in business—including machinery, equipment, and other tangible items—is generally subject to tax in…