All of the state Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, including the one in Massachusetts, have formed a national network to offer supply chain solutions to manufacturers disrupted by the efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The network, launched in March, enables MEPs in any state to put out a call on behalf of one of its manufacturers to find creative solutions to issues like supply shortages, said Kathie Mahoney, MassMEP center director.
“If we have a client, which is struggling for any reason, we can put up there what they are looking for. A supplier in the U.S. can fulfill their order, they will,” Mahoney said.
MEPs are public-private partnerships in all 50 states funded in part by the U.S. government to provide advocacy and services like education and training to individual companies.
MassMEP has 120 clients, roughly, throughout Massachusetts, said Mahoney.
So far, those firms have had little disruption in their productivity or operations due to the coronavirus, she said.
“We are seeing a trend statewide of them staying in businesses, but they are not allowing in visitors,” Mahoney said.
That could change if manufacturers are forced to shut down, or if Gov. Charlie Baker issues a shelter-in-place order closing all non-essential businesses, Mahoney said.
In a survey conducted from Feb. 28 to March 9, the National Association of Manufacturers found 78% of manufacturers surveyed expected some disruption of their business due to coronavirus and 53% anticipate having to change their operations.
