Welcome to YOUR Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions (AMS) team. We are a group of experts located throughout the state of Arkansas with a mission to positively impact the state of Arkansas by improving the global competitiveness of Arkansas' industry. By utilizing our collective resources and capabilities, we are able to provide technical and professional assistance to Arkansas manufacturers.

AMS has been in existence for over 9 years and is a part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The NIST MEP consists of over 2,000 professionals at more than 400 centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Manufacturing companies, within Arkansas, that have utilized AMS' services continue to report siginificant impact numbers. A 12-Month NIST MEP survey data of these companies indicated the following impact:

1. Increased and retained sales of $77,987,000
2. Cost savings of $7,869,626
3. Company Investment of $4,646,160
4. Jobs created and retained: 994

Located at ASU's Delta Center for Economic Development, we focus on bringing the benefits of world class concepts to manufacturing teams in Northeast Arkansas. The platform of services currently available includes:

1. Lean Manufacturing
2. ISO 9000/TS 16949
3. Six Sigma
4. Environmental Health and Safety
5. Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria
6. Engineering project support
7. Strategic Solutions
8. Information Technology

In today's world, manufacturers are challenged to reduce costs and have a strategy to compete in a global economy. As such, for the past nine years, AMS has championed the benefits of BEST PRACTICES for our state's manufacturers.

In addition, the pursuit of a Lean Manufacturing philosophy is an essential for companies who want to thrive, rather than merely survive, in today's global economy. Lean is about identifying and eliminating wasteful activities within an operation that do not add value to the end product or service for which a customer is willing to pay. Companies from around the country that have been pursuing the Lean journey report the following significant benefits:

1. 90% Lead Time Reduction
2. 50% Productivity Increase
3. 80% Work in Process Reduction
4. 80% Quality Improvement
5. 75% Space Utilization

Click here to open a Word document entitled: "Creating the Course and Tools for a Lean Accounting System"

Click here to open a Word document discussing how Manufacturing Drives China's Economic Growth

Click here to learn more about "The Real Crisis in U.S. Manufacturing"

If you would like to have more information regarding AMS's Manufacturing program, please click on the logo below or contact Bill Kraus directly:



Bill Kraus, Project Manager
Arkansas Manufacturing Extension Network
4110 Lindbergh
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401
Office:870-972-3000
Fax: 870-972-3806
Cell: 870-897-5135
wkraus@astate.edu
www.mfgsolutions.org