Technical Assistance Program to open three new offices statewide

The offices, which will work directly with manufacturers on applying efficient operations and management systems, will open at the Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson, the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center in Fort Wayne and the Purdue University Technology Center in Merrillville. The new offices are designed to meet an increased demand for TAP's expertise in improving work flow and boosting the bottom line.

TAP director David McKinnis said Purdue manufacturing specialists have delivered work force skills training and other services to more than 400 Indiana companies, which all benefited financially.

"Through our services, Indiana manufacturers have seen $4 million in cost reductions and $8 million in new investments," McKinnis said. "We see the potential for these numbers to increase substantially in future years."

TAP also manages the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and is a state partner of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Through its network, companies receive assistance in work force, energy, quality, productivity and other assessment, and educational and implementation services.

David Snow, MEP director, said the manufacturing specialists apply proven operational techniques that have been used by thousands of manufacturing firms throughout the United States. In return, companies realize significant financial gains.

"In 2005-06 Indiana companies that hired TAP reported an average savings and income benefit of $488,000 per year," Snow said. "The average investment made by those same companies was less than $25,000. That's a 19-to-1 return on their investment. Even more compelling is the fact that TAP clients were successful in attracting grant dollars to fund the MEP training and implementation services."

Snow said that by expanding TAP's reach and helping more manufacturers improve their operations, Purdue fulfills its land-grant mission to serve as an educational and economic partner to the state.

"These new TAP offices will serve as a portal to the vast technological and business resources of Purdue University," Snow said. "Our job is to bring the best knowledge, practices and resources to each company we engage. We look forward to playing a key role in preserving and growing our companies and the state economy."

TAP also plans to open a new office at the Purdue Technology Center of New Albany. The 30,000- to 40,000-square-foot center, which is expected to open by the fall of 2008, will be constructed at the southeast corner of I-265 and Charlestown Road.

In addition to the TAP office, the center will contain 18,000 square feet of business incubator offices and an economic development office. The remaining space will be used for classrooms, labs and faculty offices for Purdue's College of Technology so it can expand its academic curricula and offer four-year degrees.

Manufacturers can contact manufacturing specialists at the three new offices beginning Friday (June 9). Steve Hornett can be reached at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center in Fort Wayne at (260) 399-1669, shornett@purdue.edu. Paul Johnson is available at the Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson at (765) 622-9156, pjjohnson@purdue.edu. John Soeka can be reached at the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana at (219) 644-3462, soeka@purdue.edu.

Writer: Marydell Forbes (765) 496,7704, mforbes@purdue.edu

Sources: David Snow, (317) 275-6811, davesnow@purdue.edu

David McKinnis, (765) 494-9189, mckinnis@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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