Assessing the impact of manufacturing extension center

Abstract

This article summarizes results from the authors' evaluation of the first five years of operation of one of the first MEP centers—the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. The evaluation utilizes the Performance Benchmarking Service's proprietary database of quantitative measures of performance in 3000 smaller manufacturing plants. The results suggest that while clients are satisfied with MMTC services, nany of the center's projects are less than effective at achieving desired client outcomes and policy objectives. The article considers the implications of this finding both for program operation and future evaluation approaches.