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South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership

SCMEP

“At the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, we help manufacturers grow.” Follow SCMEP programs and news from across the state.

SCMEP programs

From scmep.org
Service areas

How SCMEP helps

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Quality / Six Sigma
  • Workforce Development
  • Training & Events
Explore services on scmep.org →
Peer network

OpExChange

“OpExChange is a unique peer-to-peer network of companies dedicated to achieving greater levels of operational excellence.”

Learn about OpExChange →
SCMEP program

CONNEX

Find out how CONNEX works and how to take part on SCMEP’s website.

Explore CONNEX →

SCMEP & OpExChange news

See all SCMEP stories →
OpExChange Mar 23

Peeling Back the Layers: A Lean Manufacturing Kaizen at Leidos in South Carolina

Hosted at Leidos’ operation near Charleston, this OpExChange Lean manufacturing Kaizen brought together 19 participants from six companies, representing a diverse cross-section of South Carolina manufacturing. The event took place inside a relatively new, high-tech environment – a 150,000-square-foot facility supporting advanced manufacturing and system integration for security technologies used around the world. From the […]

By SCMFG/Staff
OpExChange Feb 15

Demystifying Generative AI in South Carolina

Generative AI is no longer a future concept reserved for tech companies. It is quickly becoming part of the operational toolkit for manufacturers across South Carolina – and leaders are working to separate meaningful opportunity from marketing hype. On February 3, OpExChange hosted a virtual session titled Demystifying GenAI, drawing one of the strongest webinar […]

By SCMFG/Staff
OpExChange Jan 20

Timken Tyger River – TMOS 2 Flow, Quality, & Competitive Advantage

On January 13, members of the OpExChange gathered at Timken’s Tyger River plant for a deep dive into the next evolution of the Timken Manufacturing Operating System (TMOS 2). More than a traditional plant tour, the visit offered an inside look at how a 125‑year‑old company continues to evolve – combining disciplined systems, advanced data […]

By SCMFG/Staff
OpExChange Dec 3

SiMT in Florence: Where Advanced Manufacturing Meets Workforce Development

By Mike Demos, OpExChange Coordinator for the SCMEP On November 18, the OpExChange traveled to Florence for a visit to one of South Carolina’s most quietly influential manufacturing institutions – the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing Technology, or SiMT. Although SiMT joined the OpExChange just over a year ago, their impact on the state’s manufacturing landscape stretches back […]

By SCMFG/Staff
OpExChange Nov 19

Home Turf Advantage: KION’s Expansion Strengthens South Carolina Manufacturing

Members of the OpExChange network visited KION North America’s Summerville campus on November 4th for an immersive look at one of South Carolina’s most capable manufacturing operations. Leading the visit was Daniel Schlegel, Vice President of Operations, whose decades of experience – and genuine enthusiasm for the craft – shaped a thoughtful, people-focused conversation. KION […]

By SCMFG/Staff
OpExChange Nov 6

Building a Digital Twin: Seeing the Future Before You Build It

By Mike Demos, OpExChange Coordinator for the SCMEP In the OpExChange, we’ve seen how powerful visualization can be in driving improvement. One of the most exciting tools helping manufacturers do just that is digital twin simulation modeling – a method that allows teams to test, refine, and de-risk decisions before they make them. On October 29th, Jason […]

By SCMFG/Staff

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Continuous improvement, quality, workforce development and training for South Carolina manufacturers.