Manufacturing Enterprise Systems (MES)

The MES program supports research on design, planning, and control of operations in manufacturing enterprises. Research is supported that impacts the analytical and computational techniques relevant to extended enterprise operations and that offer the prospect of implementable solutions. Topics of interest include analytical and computational tools for planning, monitoring, control, and scheduling of manufacturing and distribution operations, and development of methods for optimization of manufacturing enterprises in the presence of a high degree of uncertainty and risk.

What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)

Manufacturing Enterprise Systems

Full Proposal Window: September 1, 2010 - October 1, 2010

September 1 - October 1, Annually Thereafter

Full Proposal Window: January 15, 2011 - February 15, 2011

January 15 - February 15, Annually Thereafter

Due dates repeat annually. Please reference the CMMI main page for further specifics concerning unsolicited proposal submission windows.

SYNOPSIS

The MES program supports research on design, planning, and control of operations in manufacturing enterprises. Research is supported that impacts the analytical and computational techniques relevant to extended enterprise operations and that offer the prospect of implementable solutions. Topics of interest include analytical and computational tools for planning, monitoring, control, and scheduling of manufacturing and distribution operations, and development of methods for optimization of manufacturing enterprises in the presence of a high degree of uncertainty and risk.

Department of Energy Paves Way for Additional Clean Energy Projects and Jobs Through Manufacturing Solicitation

[From www.energy.gov] Washington D.C. --- Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new loan guarantee solicitation for renewable energy manufacturing projects. The Commercial Technology Manufacturing Systems and Components solicitation is supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through Section 1705 of the Loan Guarantee Program. The solicitation will support the deployment of renewable energy technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help increase employment in the nation's green manufacturing sector, which is part of the Administration's long-term plan to create new green energy jobs.

The solicitation will seek applications for projects that manufacture commercial technology renewable energy systems, such as an energy storage system, and components, such as wind turbine systems, blades or solar photovoltaic components.

"The Department's manufacturing solicitation will help more Americans get back to work while accelerating economic development," said Secretary Chu. "To keep pace in the global market, we need to build and expand U.S.-based state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities."

The Department has recently implemented a number of improvements to its loan guarantee program that will help facilitate a more efficient application process. For example, the Department designed and organized the manufacturing solicitation to provide greater transparency into application requirements, evaluation processes, schedules and fees. Additionally, applicants can apply to the solicitation via the newly launched, user-friendly online application portal.

As with earlier solicitations, the manufacturing solicitation will consist of a two-step process with rolling deadlines. The first Part I deadline is August 31, 2010, and the first Part II deadline is October 31, 2010. Final part I applications are due November 30, 2010 and final part II applications are due January 31, 2011. Applicants are strongly encouraged to get their applications in early since projects must meet all statutory and regulatory requirements and commence construction no later than September 30, 2011. The Department will make available up to $750 million to pay the credit subsidy costs of loan guarantees issued through this solicitation.

The Recovery Act created a new Section 1705 under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title XVII) for the rapid deployment of renewable energy projects and related manufacturing facilities, electric power transmission projects, and leading edge biofuels projects that commence construction before September 30, 2011. This solicitation is the fourth issued in support of Section 1705. For more information on this program, please visit the Loan Guarantee Program Office.

America COMPETES Act of 2010

[From the Congresswoman's website] July 8, 2010 Erie, Pa.—Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), a member of the Committee on Science and Technology, was at Industrial Sales and Manufacturing, Inc. in Erie today to discuss legislation that supports the local manufacturing and education communities, the America COMPETES Act of 2010. To enhance America’s competitiveness and technological innovation, America COMPETES makes strategic investments that support manufacturing and create jobs by funding science, research and development, and education.

The America COMPETES Act provides strategic investments to create new technologies and support manufacturing—two areas proven to create quality jobs and lasting businesses. Each year, the U.S. manufacturing sector generates more than $1.5 trillion worth of goods. Manufacturing accounts for more than half of total U.S. exports and employs millions of people. However, between 2000 and 2007, the U.S. global market share of manufactured exports fell from 19 percent to 14 percent. During that same period, the Chinese share of global exports rose from 7 percent to 17 percent.

The COMPETES reauthorization supports small- and medium-sized manufacturers by providing Innovative Technology federal loan guarantees to help them access capital to become more efficient and stay competitive. COMPETES supports the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which provides resources to keep small American manufacturers on the cutting edge by enhancing growth, improving productivity, and expanding capacity.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) MEP program is a network of 59 centers across the country, including the Northwest Industrial Resource Center in Erie. MEPs help our local small- and medium-sized manufacturers solve problems, increase productivity, improve their economic competitiveness, and enhance their technological capabilities.

Rep. Dahlkemper has an amendment to the COMPETES Act to help close the gap between the skills and talent of workers and the advanced manufacturing needs of employers by providing training in advanced manufacturing. Through Rep. Dahlkemper’s amendment, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will award grants to expand scientific and technical education and training in advanced manufacturing through the Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education programs.

Read the full press release here.

GOALI accepting proposals

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects. This solicitation targets high-risk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental research, new approaches to solving generic problems, development of innovative collaborative industry-university educational programs, and direct transfer of new knowledge between academe and industry. GOALI seeks to fund transformative research that lies beyond that which industry would normally fund.

Solid-State Lighting

The Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys (EEREs) Building Technologies (BT) Program, is seeking applications for applied research in the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) US Manufacturing Program. The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to achieve cost reduction of solid-state lighting for general illumination through improvements in manufacturing equipment, processes, or techniques. It is anticipated that success will lead to a more rapid adoption/installation of high-quality SSL products resulting in a significant reduction of energy use and a corresponding reduction of environmental pollutants. A secondary objective is to maintain, in the case of light emitting diodes (LEDs), or establish, in the case of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), the manufacturing and technology base within the US.

PennTAP Energy applications

Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) is accepting applications for participation in a pilot demonstration of an Energy Management System implementation. Find out how you could become one of the country’s first companies qualified to pursue ISO 50001 certification.

In Pennsylvania, PennTAP will assist one manufacturing plant implement an energy management system to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs at a greatly reduced consulting rate (grant subsidized). Letters are due by April 1, 2010.

More details here: http://www.penntap.psu.edu/files/Application_Information.pdf