The Story of Tennessee Manufacturing – UT CIS Client Survey

Every quarter, approximately 60 UT CIS clients have the opportunity to tell us and our partners about the improvements, savings, and investments realized through their relationship with the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP), housed within UT CIS.

Focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network (MEP NN) comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), 51 MEP Centers located across 50 states and Puerto Rico, and over 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at more than 385 MEP service locations. Each MEP Center is a partnership between the federal government and a variety of public or private entities, including state, university and nonprofit organizations.

In Fiscal Year 2020, for every one dollar of federal investment, the MEP National Network generated $19.60 in new sales growth and $33.70 in new client investment. This translates into $2.9 billion in new manufacturing sales nationally.
During the same period in Tennessee, 90% of UT CIS manufacturing clients self-reported over $250 million in new/retained sales, cost savings and company investments. These successes are realized through on-site consultant led projects and training activities. UT CIS knows these successes leave a lasting impact on local communities while also trickling out to the broader state economy.

The 15-question client project survey, administered by a third-party, asks clients about the challenges they face, the financial impacts they achieved through working with UT CIS, and whether they would recommend UT CIS to their own peers. While completely voluntary, typically about 90% of the companies surveyed respond and provide financial results. In addition, we are thrilled to read the feedback (positive and negative) from manufacturers each quarter.

Client success, as shown through the survey responses, are at the heart of the what makes UT CIS different. When we showcase the remarkable performance of these companies, we attract more manufacturers to our state who can create and retain more jobs, improve the livelihood of their communities, and continue to contribute to our flourishing manufacturing ecosystem.

Here are a few things to be aware of regarding the survey process:

• Clients will be asked to complete one survey per year based on all engagements for that year
• One month prior to the survey period, your Solutions Consultant will be in touch to verify the appropriate contact and share more information about the survey process and your past reporting
• On the first day of survey period, the contact receives a unique survey link via email from: support@mepclientsurvey.com
• Clients should consider the totality of the impacts they have achieved in working with UT CIS and how those impacts have cumulatively been expressed in the last twelve months in results.

Help us tell your story by making sure you are counted and included in the Client Reported Impacts. If you would like to see some of the stories and testimonials shared by UT CIS clients, please view our UT CIS Customer Success Stories.