Summary: Manufacturing extension programs help companies modernize or upgrade their operations, often with state and federal funding. The National Institute of Standards and Technology manages federal funding for the program through its Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP). In the current climate of government downsizing, Congress is reconsidering MEP funding. One issue Congress is evaluating is whether MEP services have helped businesses improve their performance. GAO did a national survey of manufacturers that had received MEP services in 1993. The survey results, described in a 1995 report (GAO/GGD-95-216BR), indicate that 73 percent of respondents viewed MEP assistance as having a positive effect on their overall business performance. In addition, most respondents found that MEP assistance had had a positive effect on their use of technology in the workplace, the quality of their products, and customer satisfaction. This report further analyzes GAO's national survey results. GAO (1) identifies factors that may have contributed to the positive impact on overall business performance reported by the majority of respondents; (2) determines whether MEP assistance met companies' expectations for specific performance indicators, such as manufacturing time frames and labor productivity; and (3) determines whether companies thought that MEP had actually demonstrated attributes that they valued most, such as MEP staff expertise, timely assistance, and reasonably priced fees.
