Be sure to set your dial for Sunday, March 23, 10 - 10:30 am to hear about VMEC's 30 years of existence in all things manufacturing!
Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center VMEC Center Director & CEO Patrick Boyle and Maple Landmark Woodcraft's President Mike Rainville, who is also the President of the VMEC Board of Directors, are the featured guests of NBC 5 Evening News Anchor and In Depth host Brian Colleran.
Patrick and Mike will speak of the importance of VMEC's role the last 30 years in the world of VT manufacturing and the impact the industry has on the Green Mountain state's economy.
Maker's Fund Reminder - Sustain and Grow your Business
In November, we announced our newest partnership; Northfield Savings Bank has graciously agreed to support small and medium-sized manufacturers. They will contribute $60,000 over a two-year period towards a “Maker’s Fund."
The fund will be used to provide a range of services, based on operational needs, to manufacturers with 20 or less employees to sustain and grow their businesses. VMEC will carry out the work designed to help our Vermont manufacturers sustain and grow. The partnership began October 1, 2024 and will extend to September 30, 2026.
For complete details, view our November 13 press release and the fund guidelines on our Funding, Partner and Resource Links page.
Contact us today so we can work with you on your growth opportunities!
Calling All Windham Region Manufacturers - BDCC Wants to Hear from You!
Manufacturing is critical to the Windham Region’s economic vitality. For 70 years, BDCC has supported manufacturers, from tiny startups to expanding global companies.
Periodically, they conduct surveys to understand changing needs. This information guides BDCC's services, including lending, real estate development, and workforce programs. Please take a few minutes to complete their 2025 Manufacturing Hiring Needs Survey; responses are compiled to create a snapshot of local manufacturing. No unique company data will be shared.
Learning Opportunities for You!
2025 marks VMEC’s 30th anniversary supporting Vermont manufacturers and you benefit in a big way! All year long, we'll reduce the fee of our Lean-based "standard" public training opportunities at a 70% discount!
The 5S System: Workplace Organization and Standardization
Two dates and locations to choose from!
March 27 / 8:00 am - 12 N / St. Albans / $98 pp / Register!
April 3 / 8:00 am - 12 N / Waterbury / $98 pp / Register!
Bring new order to your work environment – eliminate waste, clutter and inefficiencies from your work space! Let VMEC help you organize your work spaces for greater efficiency and savings! The 5S System – Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain – is a proven, effective way to identify and eliminate wasteful practices from your workplace.
This session will be delivered in two parts: the first portion (four hours) takes place in a classroom style setting followed by an additional four hours (scheduled at a later date and held at your company) where your team will be coached on the 5S methodology. Join us to achieve more consistent operational results by maintaining an orderly workplace!
Connect, Engage and Strive toward Strategic Goals Together
April 3 - October 31 / Various times
Remote and In-person sessions / $269 pp (ends March 20) and $895 pp /
Register! (see Pricing section for details)
VMEC advisors have long been practicing, teaching and facilitating Strategy Development, Activation and Deployment. And while we may agree that “Culture eats Strategy for Breakfast”, we have also experienced the powerful impact of Strategy Deployment to focus, align, and develop capability and adaptability.
This dynamic multi-session opportunity will take you from mission, vision, and values to an executable, engaging plan and repeatable process. You will leave Session One with a roadmap, a few steps already taken, usable templates and a plan to work with VMEC one-on-one to be specific about your scope and method for using structured and dynamic Strategy Deployment; view this 18-second time lapse Strategy Deployment clip which gives a taste of the process.
Lean 101 - Lean Transformation
April 16 / 8:00 am - 3:00 pm / Fairfax / $98 pp / Register!
Lean is a learning system that develops capability and adaptability in people and processes. Lean 101 workshops have created and reignited the spark for improvement in countless organizations in Vermont and across the globe. When paired with the commitment to further engage and develop employees at all levels, Lean has proven to result in the competitive edge that attracts customers, employees and investors.
Participants will begin this workshop as a new employee in a chaotic manufacturing company. The results of the first round of simulation provide the basis on which Lean principles will be applied. Participants revisit the manufacturing environment and apply the Lean fundamentals that are taught “in the classroom”. Simple financial statements prepared after each round of the simulation show the impact of the improvements on a company’s bottom line. Participants will walk away recognizing the 8 wastes and with an introduction to mindsets and methods that they can use to eliminate these wastes in their own companies.
View our Training and Events page to read the full descriptions and register for any of the events above.
Vermont Manufacturing Day
April 2
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Vermont State House, 115 State St., Montpelier
Join industry leaders, manufacturing businesses and policy makers to celebrate the manufacturing sector’s significant contributions to Vermont’s economy.
The event will feature a full day of programming, beginning with coffee with legislators, Lt. Governor Rodgers, and Governor Scott (invited), followed by business testimony before key committees, listening sessions with policy leaders, and a press conference underscoring the importance of Vermont's manufacturing industry. RSVP today! (If you RSVP'd for the original February 26 date, please RSVP once again) Questions? Contact Karen Duguay, VT Chamber of Commerce, Senior Director of Programming, at [email protected].
How Smaller Manufacturers Can Leverage Reshoring Opportunities for Growth
Reshoring - the process of bringing manufacturing back to the US - is continuing to gain momentum. Companies are reevaluating their offshore supply chains, driven by rising costs, geopolitical risks, and supply chain disruptions.
For smaller manufacturers, this shift also presents a unique opportunity to position themselves as key players in the rebuilding of domestic supply chains. This blog introduces insights and strategies about navigating the reshoring process which is explored in NIST's latest white paper, “How U.S. Manufacturers Can Take Advantage of Reshoring.”
Part of the nationwide MEP National Network and hosted by Vermont State University since 1995, VMEC operates as a not-for-profit with a primary mission, “to strengthen and empower Vermont manufacturers.”
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