(Note: Some of the links below are presented in .pdf. To read these files, you can download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader free. If you have difficulty reading .pdf files, you may need to update your version of Acrobat reader to the latest version. Otherwise, you may contact inquiries@nist.gov for a paper copy.)

See also related industry sector information for aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, communications, computers, construction, electronics/semiconductors, and health care.

Manufacturing Processes

Manufacturers' processes must flow together seamlessly in order to consistently produce high quality goods. NIST engineers study manufacturing processes in order to better understand how to make complex processes repeatable, predictable, measurable, and consistent. Here's how.

Smart Machining Systems--develops, validates, and demonstrates the metrology, standards, and infrastructural tools that enable U.S. industry to characterize, monitor, and improve the accuracy, reliability and productivity of machining operations, leading to the realization of autonomous smart machining systems

Predictive Process Engineering -- develops measurements and standards for accurately predicting the outcome of parts production processes so that one day parts are made right the first time. Contact: Kevin Jurrens, (301) 975-5486.

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Materials

In the highly competitive marketplace, manufacturers must continually try to improve their products. And that means they need superior materials. NIST programs help improve many of the materials that go into manufactured goods from ceramics to plastics and advanced metal alloys. Below are links to some of our materials research projects.

Materials Performance Group -- focuses on mechanical properties, deformation processing and fracture, and the effects of corrosion on materials performance; provides industry with materials performance and corrosion control data, hardness standards, models for processing aluminum metal matrix composites, and standard test methods.

Phase Diagram Research -- develops phase diagrams for special families of alloys, including nickel-based superalloys for aerospace applications.

Ceramics WebBook -- a resource for ceramic materials researchers and engineers; contains evaluated data on ceramics properties.

Ceramics Division -- see the NIST Ceramics Division homepage for links to publications, programs, facilities, and events.

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Mechanical and Dimensional Measurements

Making quality products often means sub-millimeter measurement precision on the assembly line. Through work with NIST, U.S. manufacturers have greatly improved measurement accuracy in technically complex processes. That translates into fewer manufacturing errors and higher quality cars, planes, and other products. Here's how NIST helps.

NIST's Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory works to improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by developing and applying measurement standards and technologies.

Engineering Metrology -- develops the techniques and standards for length and geometric measurements needed to make sure parts conform to design specifications. Contact: Jack Stone, (301) 975-5638.

Large Scale Metrology -- improves measurements on the scale of one meter or larger and helps reduce the problem of parts not meeting measurement tolerances. Contact: Charles Fronczek, (301) 975- 4079.

Calibration Services-- provides U.S. industry with best-in-the- world-class measurement services for the mechanical quantities of mass, force, acoustics, and vibration

Systems Integration and Interoperability

In the information age, manufacturing relies on multiple, technically complex systems working well together within and between shops. Manufacturers are getting help from NIST in making sure a set of specs means exactly the same thing to different manufacturing systems. Read on to see how we're improving interoperability and integration.

Intelligent Open Architecture Control of Manufacturing Systems -- develops measurements and standards to support robotic control technology for process and measuring equipment. Contact: Frederick Proctor, (301) 975-3425.

Information Technology Metrology for Manufacturing -- develops test methods and standards to help gauge how well manufacturing software applications work together. Contact: Simon Frechette, (301) 975-3335.

Product Engineering -- develops information protocols for interoperability of computer-aided design and product engineering systems. Contact: Ram Sriram, (301) 975-3507.

Shop Floor as a National Measurement Institute -- performs research that will help manufacturers demonstrate measurement ability traditionally performed only in a nation's primary measurement lab, but now required for global trade. Contact: Steven Phillips, (301) 975-3565.

Systems Integration for Manufacturing Applications -- focuses on defining, testing, and promoting standards for interoperability solutions; facilitates remote access to scientific and engineering data; and researches collaborative manufacturing environments.

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Sensors and Control Systems

The accuracy of industrial sensors is a key to the quality of many manufactured products. As part of our mission to assist industry, we are working on new sensor technologies to detect multiple substances, even very tiny amounts, with very high accuracy. Here are some examples.

Microhotplate Chemical Sensing -- developing technologies for next-generation chemical measurements with solid state devices; developing microhotplate devices to detect and quantify gases.

Lab-on-a-Chip -- develops and evaluates microfluidic devices for use as microanalytical diagnostic and sensing devices; seeking industrial and academic collaborators.

DNA Self-Assembled Monolayer Sensors -- characterizing properties of DNA monolayers in order to help develop their potential as rapid and inexpensive industrial sensors.

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Temperature, Pressure, Flow, and Other Basic Units

NIST is responsible for maintaining standards for the basic units of measure in the International System of Units, the modern metric system. Many manufacturers rely on NIST for these standards. The links below give more details.

The NIST Thermometry Group provides U.S. industry with national standards for measuring temperature and conducts research on temperature scales and standards.

Radiance Temperature Laboratory -- establishes, maintains, and disseminates the U.S. National Scale of Radiance Temperature; our group is responsible for temperature measurements above the freezing point of silver (1234.93 K). Contact: Charles Gibson, (301) 975-2329.

The NIST Fluid Flow Group maintains and disseminates standards needed by U.S. industry for fluid flow rates, including liquid flow rates and air speed measurements.

The NIST Pressure and Vacuum Group provides standards and calibrations for pressure and vacuum gages.

Here's a NIST reference on the International System of Units. Look here for definitions of all the SI units, unit conversions, and a bibliography of online publications on the International System of Units.

Data

Whether you need to monitor emissions from your smoke stacks or to design equipment using industrial fluids, you probably need NIST data. We have many databases for science and industry. Some are freely available online, and others are for sale.

The NIST Standard Reference Data Program serves science and industry with world-leading technical data services and products. This page provides links to scientific databases in several specialties.

Industrial Fluids and Chemical Engineering -- here's where you can get information on our databases for thermophysical properties of fluid mixtures; manufacturers of refrigeration and hydro-electric power generation equipment rely on these tools to design equipment.

The NIST Chemistry WebBook provides users with easy access to chemical and physical property data for chemical species through the internet. You can search by name, formula, author, or structure and retrieve phase, reaction, spectral, thermophysical, and many other properties.

Physical Reference Data -- look up physical constants, atomic and molecular data, ionization, x-ray, and gamma ray data, nuclear physics data, and condensed matter physics data. This page also has links to other online NIST reference databases.

NIST Databases also help assure accuracy with environmental measurements. Our Quantitative Infrared Database helps manufacturers and environmental regulators measure air pollutants with great accuracy.

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Local Assistance for Small Manufacturers

NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of assistance centers for smaller manufacturers in all 50 states, and Puerto Rico, offers experts to consult with small to mid-sized manufacturing firms. Assistance covers advice on ways to modernize, increase efficiency and take advantage of information technology. More than 100,000 manufacturing firms received assistance between 1988 and 2000.

Read some of the success stories of NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership clients.

Look up the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center nearest you. You can also phone 1-800-MEP-4MFG (1- 800-637-4634) to be automatically routed to the center nearest you.

Other Resources

NIST outreach programs work directly with business and industry to boost U.S. economic competitiveness. Many manufacturers have benefitted by taking advantage of these programs.

Smaller manufacturers face many challenges in our technology-driven environment. To help meet these challenges, NIST started the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program in 1988. This nationwide network of centers, now in all 50 states, has assisted more than 100,000 U.S. firms, including manufacturers.

The Baldrige National Quality Program recognizes performance excellence and quality achievement by U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational organizations, and health-care providers. Manufacturing firms have been competing for the Baldrige Award since it was established in 1988. Winners include:

Sunny Fresh Foods, 2005 and 1999
Bama Companies, Inc., 2004 (.pdf)
Texas Nameplate Company Inc., 2004 and 1998
Menrad, Inc., 2003 (.pdf)
Stoner, Inc., 2003 (.pdf)
Motorola, Inc., (CGISS), 2002
Branch Smith Printing Division, 2002
Clark American Check, Inc., 2001
Dana Corporation--Spicer Driveshaft Division, 2000
Karlee Company, Inc., 2000
STMicroelecttronics, Inc.--Region Americas, 1999
Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, 1998
Solar Turbines Incorporated, 1998
3M Dental Products Division, 1997
Solectron Corporation, 1997 and 1991
ADAC Laboratories, 1996
Trident Precision Manufacturing Inc., 1996
Armstrong World Industries Building Products Operations, 1995
Corning Telecommunications Products Division, 1995
Wainwright Industries, 1994
Ames Rubber Corp., 1993
Eastman Chemical Company, 1993
AT&T Network Systems Group Transmission Systems Business Unit, 1992
Texas Instruments Incorporated Defense Systems and Electronics Group, 1992
Marlow Industries Inc., 1991
Zytec Corporation, 1991
IBM Rochester -- AS/400 Division, 1990
Cadillac Motor Car Co., 1990
Milliken & Co., 1989
Xerox Corporation Business Products and Systems, 1989
Globe Metallurgical Inc., 1988
Motorola Inc., 1988
Westinghouse Electric Corporation Commercial Nuclear Fuel Division, 1988

Organizations that apply for the Baldrige Award must address seven key criteria: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement, analysis, and knowledge management, human resource focus, process management, and results. Each applicant receives a feedback report citing strengths and opportunities for improvement. Award recipients and applicants alike say the application process can yield significant process improvements and is good for the bottom line. In fact, a fictitious Baldrige index made up of winning company stock has consistently outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 index. And thousands of other companies have used the Criteria for Performance Excellence to assess and improve their overall performance.

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