Making an Impact: NWIRC’s 2024 Success Metrics
NWIRC is committed to helping manufacturers tackle their most pressing business challenges. Every day, our team supports companies across a 13-county region in northwest and north central Pennsylvania through expert consulting and impactful projects focused on continuous improvement, employee/leadership development, business growth, and technology adoption.
As one of seven centers within the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Extension Partnership (PA MEP)—part of the MEP National Network—NWIRC provides manufacturers with access to proven solutions designed to enhance competitiveness in today’s fast-changing marketplace. With MEP Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, companies benefit from a mission supported by tailored expertise and resources that drive measurable results.
NWIRC 2024 Impact Results
Each quarter, NWIRC clients participate in a third-party survey conducted by Fors Marsh to assess the effectiveness of our services. The results for the 2024 calendar year confirm significant positive outcomes:
Key Challenges Identified by Manufacturers
In 2024, the top challenge cited by manufacturers was employee recruiting and retention (63%), surpassing cost reduction (59%). Additional challenges included growth opportunities (53%) and product development (37%).
Client Success
NWIRC projects span a wide range of manufacturing challenges. Below are just a few testimonials from companies that have seen transformative results:
Smart Talent: “The Smart Talent workforce development program has been transformative for our team. By collaborating with NWIRC, we documented critical processes and created engaging video training modules that preserve knowledge and improve skills. The results speak for themselves—we’re reducing scrap and rework while safeguarding a vital line of business. This initiative sets the foundation for long-term success, helping us achieve our ambitious 50% scrap reduction target for 2025.”
Supply Chain Optimization: “The insights gained from the Supply Chain 101 workshop enabled us to persuade our joint venture partner to grant access to their enterprise supply chain module, significantly improving shipping and receiving accuracy. Previously reliant on manual, paper-based processes, we are now more precise, efficient, and timesaving in our operations.”
Maintenance Masters: “The Maintenance Masters collaborative program provided valuable exposure to the benefits of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). By engaging with different organizations, we implemented a new CMMS and have already seen improvements in visibility, efficiency, and maintenance tracking.”
Strategic Planning Excellence: “Lisa’s ability to facilitate our strategic planning process was instrumental to the project’s success. She kept us focused on key objectives while allowing time for meaningful discussions. By the end of the process, we had a clear action plan to achieve our desired results. Her extensive industry experience and ability to engage all participants made a significant impact.”
Gemba Walk: “As a result of our project, we believe Gemba will help us maintain employment levels by increasing efficiency at current staffing levels and implementing corrective actions for safety and quality. Most importantly, it will improve retention by fostering better communication on issues, challenges, and successes across our teams.”
NWIRC remains committed to helping manufacturers improve performance, overcome obstacles, and achieve lasting success.