Founded in 1995, the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) operates as a statewide not-for-profit center
affiliated with the nationwide Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) through the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. VMEC Headquarters is located on the
campus of its host, Vermont Technical College, in Randolph Center. Visit the VMEC web site at www.vmec.org for
regional and local contact information, details on services, offerings, and workshop/training opportunities.
What is VMEC’s Mission? (What we are trying to achieve?) - The primary mission of VMEC is, “To Improve
Manufacturing in Vermont and strengthen the global competitiveness of the state’s smaller manufacturers.” This is
accomplished by leveraging private and public partnerships and providing hands-on assistance to manufacturers through
technical problem solving, training and education, and by promoting the adoption and development of advanced “Next
Generation Manufacturing” business practices and attributes which accelerate the development and growth of innovative,
competitive, and profitable Vermont companies, leading to the creation and retention of high wage manufacturing jobs.
We strive for, and achieve, measurable results with positive bottom line impacts. An annual VMEC Impact Report is
available on the Center’s website. Since 1995, VMEC has assisted more than 900 Vermont companies.
Who is the VMEC PROCESS STRATEGIES GROUP (PSG)? In early 2006, VMEC launched the Process Strategies
Group (PSG) as a business unit of VMEC to bring the Center’s vast Lean process improvement experience and strategy
expertise to selected non-manufacturing Vermont sectors, including but not limited to: healthcare, higher education,
government, and finance.
Who would help me? VMEC has a statewide staff of Professional Manufacturing/Business Advisors and Certified
Growth Coaches and Innovation Black Belts who are very experienced in implementing cost effective process
improvements and company/organization innovation and growth strategies. One VMEC Advisor specializes in
Information Technologies, including software selection and system implementations.
Many of the problems and concerns of client companies are solved directly by VMEC personnel. In other situations,
additional resources may be called in to assist. Each VMEC Advisor is trained in accessing and linking with other
technical resources and services, if necessary. These might be experts from Vermont or from around the country if
required. VMEC’s affiliation with the nationwide Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) gives access to a
wealth of our nation’s public and private science and technology resources. When outside resources are utilized, VMEC
generally assumes overall project management responsibilities to ensure satisfactory project completion.
What does VMEC assistance cost? The first step is free of charge and usually includes a plant visit and confidential,
preliminary needs assessment carried out by a VMEC Advisor. Additional services performed by VMEC are done on a
reasonable fee-for-service basis.
VMEC is a public- private "partnership" and an affiliate of the nationwide Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership (MEP) through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the US Department of
Commerce. VMEC is a cooperative effort whose primary partners are NIST/ MEP, the Vermont State Colleges, the State
of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the Vermont Technology Council.
VMEC has an Advisory Board comprised of key leaders from Vermont manufacturing companies
representing a variety of industries across the state, plus other leaders with strong ties to manufacturing.