A program that provides technical and business assistance to manufacturing companies
across Wyoming has reached a new level of excellence based on its impact on clients.
Manufacturing Works, a partnership among the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Business
Council and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has achieved
a score of 100 on its NIST impact metrics report. This is based upon statistics including
the number of manufacturing companies served; jobs created and retained; new and retained
sales; and cost savings and investments made by the companies as a result of Manufacturing
Works’ services.
“This is a great accomplishment for our Manufacturing Works team,” says Steve Farkas,
UW’s associate vice president for economic development. “We’ve come a long way in
a fairly short period of time, and this score is a reflection of the team’s leadership
and dedication to Wyoming’s manufacturing community.”
Manufacturing Works is part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National
Network, which has centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. MEP is administered by
NIST, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
According to the impact metrics report, Manufacturing Works served 52 clients across
Wyoming in the past year. Because of those services, the companies reported creating
or retaining a total of 471 jobs; generating $64.3 million in new sales; and retaining
$30.5 million in sales. Additionally, the companies made a total of $10.8 million
in new investments in machinery and other items, while saving $6.7 million in costs.
“We’re excited at the tremendous progress we’ve made in serving Wyoming manufacturers,”
says Rocky Case, center director for Manufacturing Works. “These numbers represent
real impacts on Wyoming companies and the state’s manufacturing industry.”
Here are some specific examples of Manufacturing Works’ impact:
— Electrichlor LLC, based in Laramie, provides water treatment, cathodic protection,
field engineering and manufacturing in the on-site hypochlorite generation industry
for water treatment. In particular, Electrichlor has had tremendous success in producing
systems focused on the cleansing of ballast systems for ocean-going vessels. To continue
growing, the company aimed to diversify into a water cleansing system for municipalities.
Manufacturing Works researched that potential new market and helped the company find
a UW chemical engineering intern to further explore the opportunity, including securing
an internship grant from the state Department of Workforce Services.
“Manufacturing Works has been a huge asset to the success of Electrichlor in the past
several years,” says Darwin Keeney, the company’s sales and operations manager. “The
intern has helped us test a new endeavor that we were able to start and finish ahead
of schedule. Without the help of Manufacturing Works, my job would have been a lot
more difficult with finding the right person and securing the funding to bring them
on board, as Electrichlor is a small company.”
— L&H Industrial, with headquarters in Gillette, is a leader in technology innovations,
custom manufacturing and comprehensive services for heavy industrial machinery used
in mining, oil and gas, railways and other industries. Since securing initial work
for NASA in 2015, L&H had tried to get more work in the space industry as well as
with U.S. Department of Defense prime contractors. To do so, L&H needed to complete
a NIST 800-171 self-assessment and submit a system security plan to the supplier performance
risk system.
Upon assessment of L&H’s cyber needs, Manufacturing Works linked the company with
4th State Communications, a Wyoming-based cyber expert, so that L&H could document
and solidify its internal cyber standards. And Manufacturing Works assisted in the
timely submission of L&H’s self-assessment.
“We were thankful to receive that help from Manufacturing Works,” L&H Engineering
Manager Bill Schroyer says. “In parallel with the cyber training, L&H had signed up
with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which was a requirement for doing business
with the Department of Defense. After a short grace period, the agency sent correspondence
saying we needed to submit (required paperwork) within two weeks or risk having DLA
access shut off. Manufacturing Works helped us get through that hurdle as well.”
— Moser Engine Service Inc., based in Casper, is an industry leader in power generation
and industrial engine innovation and reliability. Moser’s natural gas generators and
diesel generators are designed and built to perform reliably in all situations, from
urban environments to the oil field’s harsh conditions. Due to rapid business growth,
the company needed to expand its engineering change management (ECM) system and capacity.
After assessing Moser’s engineering department and systems, Manufacturing Works proposed
actions including implementing Microsoft ECM documenting internal processes and using
UW engineering and MBA students to cost-effectively make updates.
“Thank you to the Manufacturing Works team for its invaluable support in assisting
Moser Energy in establishing our engineering change management project. This will
go a long way toward positioning Moser as a state-of-the-art engineering company,
enabling us to better engage our corporate goals,” says Darrin Moorman, the company’s
senior vice president of engineering and innovation. “The experience has been so successful
that we recently hired one of the UW interns who participated in the project. He has
quickly distinguished himself as a key contributor and future leader of our engineering
team. It is very satisfying to see talented individuals stay close to home and help
advance our company and the state of Wyoming into emerging and high-tech markets.”
— Based in Powell, Wyoming Completion Technologies Inc. is an oil tool manufacturing
and design firm with customers across the world and a design team of licensed professional
engineers. The company aimed to seek ISO 9001 certification as a means of achieving
greater sustainability and acquiring new contracts.
Manufacturing Works connected the company with a vendor and worked with the Wyoming
Business Council to secure a cost-share grant from the state. As a result, Wyoming
Completion Technologies achieved ISO 9001 certification and has experienced a boost
in attention and visibility, resulting in new contracts and expanded opportunities
in international business.
“Assistance from Manufacturing Works enabled Wyoming Completion Technologies to achieve
its goal of ISO 9000 certification,” owner Scott Hecht says. “After helping to select
a consultant, they worked with us until the project was complete and then followed
up. This has opened many opportunities.”
About Manufacturing Works
Manufacturing Works provides technical and business assistance to manufacturing companies
across the state. It is part of the Wyoming Business Resource Network, with offices
in Afton, Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie and Sheridan. Manufacturing Works promotes innovation,
manufacturing and industrial competitiveness to build a stronger and more prosperous
Wyoming through enhanced economic security and improved quality of life. Services
to manufacturers include broad technical assistance, engineering solutions, general
business assistance, marketing assistance and financial counseling.
