Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078
Performing Department
AGRI ENGINEERING
Non Technical Summary
The top priorities of many small manufacturers do not include enhancing their use of technology. These manufacturers need outside assistance in problem/opportunity identification, searching for relevant solutions, and the application of manufacturing engineering and management principles to increase competitiveness. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service has responded to this need by establishment of a comprehensive technology transfer project that addresses the needs of small and mid-sized rural manufacturers. This project is unique in its services, but well integrated and coordinated with other business and manufacturing programs in the State of Oklahoma. This integration and coordination give the project the ability to leverage its modest resources to provide a valuable service to the targeted audience. Service is delivered primarily through on-site, one-on-one, focused manufacturing engineering and management assistance including introduction to and application
of relevant technologies.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Continue the delivery of high-quality engineering and manufacturing management assistance/technology transfer services to the small manufacturers of Oklahoma. The quality of service will be measured by survey responses from clients. At least 85% of survey respondents will answer yes to the following survey questions: Would you use the program services again if you had a need? Would you recommend the program services to other businesses? Objective 2: Demonstrate a value of services provided of at least six times the cost of operations. This objective will be measured by showing an estimated economic value of services, reported by our clients, of at least six times the amount of federal funds allocated to the OCES portion of the project.
Project Methods
We have developed a general methodology of operation that responds to manufacturers' needs, supports other agencies/programs, and optimizes the use of our limited resources. In general, each of our Applications Engineers responds to a referral by conducting an introductory visit with the potential client. During this visit the engineer gains an overview of the company's operations, goals, problems, and opportunities. The company decision-maker, usually the president, learns about our capabilities and our method of service delivery. More importantly, a bond of trust and confidence begins to form between the client and OCES. The Applications Engineer then discusses the potential project with other members of the technology transfer/applications engineering team in order to develop courses of action. In some cases, the engineer, without additional assistance, will engage the client. In other cases, another site visit is required; this time including additional members of
the technology transfer/applications engineering team. During this visit we will get a more detailed understanding of the needs of the client by meeting with subordinate supervisors, observing operations, and exchanging ideas. Next we define our approach to providing assistance and present it to the client for approval/modification. Assistance may be in the form of simply providing the client with specific written or verbal information requested, or it may involve an extended search for relevant information, followed by analysis and interpretation. In some cases detailed on-site observation, interview, and data gathering are followed by off-site modeling and analysis in order to respond to the client's needs and objectives. Since one of Extension's missions is education, we always personally involve a company employee (frequently, the chief engineer or operations manager) as a member of our project team. If the issues to be resolved are beyond the capabilities of team members, we will
call upon appropriate outside resources such as university researchers, other industrial service providers, consultants, state and federal agencies, and federal laboratories. Whenever others are included, we remain actively involved in the role of participant, assistant, and liaison. Throughout the assistance phase we keep the client informed of our progress and involved in any decision-making. In our larger, more detailed, projects we present the client with a written and on-site oral report. Smaller projects may be culminated by letter and/or oral report. A member of the team always conducts follow-up calls or visits. To quantitatively evaluate project impacts, the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence conducts a client assessment survey for each manufacturer receiving our services. Impacts may include increased sales, costs savings, increased capital investment, cost avoidance, and new/retained jobs. These factors, along with others related to the quality and overall
economic value of our services, are included in the client survey.