Manufacture more than just your product. Manufacture your future. The GENEDGE mission, Virginia’s best public resource, is to help manufacturing and industry innovate, compete, and grow. Find out how partnering with the Commonwealth’s sole affiliate of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Network can empower and grow your company. When it comes to the cutting edge, your first stop is with GENEDGE.
What’s an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?
GENEDGE Alliance (GENEDGE) is Virginia’s sole affiliate of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Network™ (MEPNN), a public-private partnership that empowers small and medium-sized manufacturers to innovate, improve their competitiveness, and grow. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is part of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The MEPNN, whose mission is to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturers, comprises NIST MEP, 51 MEP Centers [like GENEDGE] located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and its over 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at more than 385 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.
What would you like to share about your business or organization with our members?
As part of the MEPNN, GENEDGE leverages federal and state funding to deliver curated expertise and resources to Virginia manufacturers, businesses, and other organizations. Our experts can help companies solve today’s toughest problems like those here in Southside – how to expand their facilities, increase productivity, keep their workforce safe and healthy, or pivot to new strategic market opportunities. We also help companies address industry standards such as ISO and Cybersecurity. No matter what the challenge, GENEDGE brings expert solutions to help Virginia companies grow and thrive.
Regional focus, local delivery, customized solutions – Since our start in 1992, GENEDGE has been leading the way in the Commonwealth of Virginia when it comes to bringing best-in-class strategies and resources to our state’s engineering, manufacturing, and technology firms. Our team is available throughout the Commonwealth [7 regions] to deliver customized solutions to manufacturing, engineering, and technology firms.
Our Vision – GENEDGE will be Virginia’s “go-to” resource that accelerates the growth of quality jobs for manufacturing, technology, and industrial clusters.
Our Mission – GENEDGE is Virginia’s best public resource to help manufacturing and industry innovate, compete, and grow.
We deliver results, as measured by our investors and stakeholders.
The effectiveness of our affordable, professional consulting services is measured by the cost savings and bottom-line profitability we help our clients achieve. Our results are measured and independently surveyed to ensure satisfaction.
For every $1 dollar invested in assistance and service… $25 is returned to the client’s bottom-line impact.
*Source: U.S. Department of Commerce / Independent Survey of Clients
GENEDGE Cumulative Economic Impact*
Additional Client Impact 2000-2020*
*Source: GENEDGE client survey results for fiscal years 2010-2019
Recent Client Testimonials
“Due to increased quality requirements from the automotive sector, our company recognized a need to upgrade our Quality Management System (QMS) from ISO9001-2015 to IATF 16949. GENEDGE facilitated all aspects of this transformation by identifying high-quality third-party consultants, arranging for a GAP analysis of our existing system, and clearly defining a schedule for training, review, and workshop sessions focused on finalizing the necessary improvements. As a result of these efforts, our business was able to successfully complete IATF 16949 certification which strengthens both our existing client relations and `opens the door for future growth objectives in Southern Virginia.”
– Joshua McArthur, Plant Manager, Mehler Engineered Products, Inc. Martinsville, Va
“As a newly opened business here in Danville, we were searching for local assistance for some specific industry certifications. We found GENEDGE as an extremely knowledgeable and affordable resource for achieving our ISO 9001:2015 Certification. They provided an approach and framework which we found very helpful especially for a small business, like ours, with many daily demands and time constraints. We are glad we chose GENEDGE as our partner for this work and believe our client and business objectives will greatly benefit from this engagement.”
–Alan Pearce, President & CEO, Fastech, LLC, Danville, Va.
Why did you become involved in the SPTC?
For our local GENEDGE staff to partake in the membership activities to network and make connections that otherwise not be possible on our own in the Southern Piedmont.
How does being a member of the SPTC help you?
Membership in the SPTC provides GENEDGE with many opportunities for: networking, knowledge sharing, and forming collaborations with like-minded organizations to fulfill shared goals regionally here in our Southern Piedmont region.
What challenges are you facing that the SPTC may be able to assist with?
Market penetration and building brand awareness are two potential areas of collaboration and growth. Partnering with emerging organizations like SPTC is one component of our southside outreach within the industrial community/membership. SPTC’s role provides another connection for educating this constituency group of our organization’s services/capabilities.
What technology innovation have you uncovered prior, during, or post the COVID-19 pandemic? What positive impact have you witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
GENEDGE, with the CARES Act Funding, demonstrated the unique capabilities of the MEP National Network as the Commonwealth’s go-to resource for small and medium sized manufacturers during these consequential times by achieving the following in response to the pandemic:
1 – GENEDGE developed and launched a web-based supply chain portal, the COVID-19 Virginia Supply Chain Connector, bringing together manufacturers from across the Commonwealth to help build a resilient Virginia-based supply chain for PPE and create great jobs to boost the economy. By connecting those who register, GENEDGE is successfully linking suppliers, buyers, and other organizations with each other, and is making connections to resources that help improve process, sustainability, supply chain, and technology.
Through the portal and directed outreach efforts, GENEDGE was able to assist over two dozen Virginia companies retool or pivot toward PPE production rapidly to respond to immediate needs due to supply chain disruption. These companies were able to fill
gaps in supply for critical PPE in the near term. Several have continued to work with GENEDGE to develop long term business plans for these new products. https://supplychain.genedge.org/
2 – GENEDGE developed the first ever GO Virginia –Retooling Virginia Manufacturers for Strategic Industries Program to retool manufacturers for critical industries. The program invests in services for small and medium size Virginia manufacturers with the potential to address reducing supply chain risks of PPE and other critical technologies by means of improved capability and capacity. The program rolled out in two phases:
Phase 1 – In 2020, GENEDGE helped retool over 20 companies to become permanent providers of FDA approved PPE. Phase 2 – In 2021, GENEDGE is helping to pivot over 20 companies in the reshoring support of products and materials for strategic industrial supply chains. GENEDGE teamed with: VA Hospital & Healthcare Assoc., VA Manufacturers Assoc., VA Economic Development Partnership, and VA Department of Emergency Management to determine relevant products and sectors where the Virginia production capacity would align with Commonwealth needs and goals.
https://genedge.org/go-virginia-retooling-virginia-manufacturers-strategic-industries-program
3 – GENEDGE conducted a 3-part webinar series with a roundtable discussion panel and prepared a COVID-19 Self-Assessment to explore Virginia’s new COVID-19 Management/OSHA requirements. The high-level assessment helps companies understand where they may need to focus to ensure that they remain compliant with the new standards. Participants are also connected with VA Department of Labor & Industry templates and other relevant materials, including recordings of the full webinar series. Over one hundred participants attended the webinar series, and many went on to complete the assessment to better understand the gaps they needed to address to comply with the new standards.
https://supplychain.genedge.org/doli-templates-and-other-relevant-materials
What positive impact have you witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
RESILIENCY – inwardly and outwardly. Governor Northam’s early declaration of manufacturing as ‘essential’ to Virginia was critically important to our economy. Throughout the first quarter of FY2020, GENEDGE continued to perform due to our dedicated Associates [employees] within our organization that stepped up to the challenge, responding to adversity by bringing their best forward while working as a team. Thanks to GENEDGE’s Leadership, we adapted quickly to keep people safe, while implementing new ways to remain responsive and evolve our service models to meet the needs of the clients we serve and the conditions in which we must operate. As we transition from FY2021 soon toward FY2022, GENEDGE will continue to work hard individually and collectively on behalf of manufacturing and industry in the Commonwealth.
What future technology innovations are on the horizon from your group?
Defend Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program – A Cybersecurity Resource for Virginia’s Industrial Base
Virginia manufacturers increasingly rely on data, information, and technologies to run their operations. Ransomware, hacking, phishing, viruses—it only takes one to bring down a network and expose proprietary and confidential information. GENEDGE’s Defend Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program delivers high quality support for small and mid-sized DoD supply chain companies, which may be at risk of losing existing or future DoD contracts due to lack of required CUI management systems.
Using a risk management framework, GENEDGE assesses a company’s risks and then develops a plan to protect their critical information. We also can help with complying to specific cybersecurity requirements like the Department of Defense DFARS 7012 requirement to meet the NIST 800-171r1 guidelines to protect CUI.
In February 2021, GENEDGE became a Registered Provider Organization by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB), enabling GENEDGE to provide consulting services to Organizations Seeking Certification (OSC) for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model
Certification (CMMC).
Connect today with John Hagwood, Regional Growth Manager!
Phone: (276) 666-8890 ext. 228
Email: jhagwood@genedge.org