PLYMOUTH—Officials at the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center are offering a new program called Connex Michigan that offers sophisticated supply chain analysis and sales support to Michigan manufacturers.
Connex Michigagn is an online manufacturer database and connectivity platform provided as a free resource for Michigan manufacturers. It’s designed to let manufacturers connect with each other, find local and domestic suppliers, explore production capabilities, and manage their supply chain. The system also has tools to help manufacturers identify risks in their supply chains—single-source suppliers, suppliers that could face blacklisting—and find opportunities for diversifying their supply chain—and, if they wish, finding suppliers closer to home.
Michigan is the sixth state to roll out the Connex platform, joining Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Utah. In each state, the platform is managed by an MEP center to provide a coordinated approach to outreach and direction for users.
connex is a cloud-based, industry-designed software platform that connects all manufacturers into a searchable database. It allows manufacturers, suppliers and buyers to quickly post and respond to needs, visualize supply chain risk, search for qualified manufacturers and discover new business opportunities. Connex is being rolled out and supported by The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST-MEP), state MEP Network Partners, including the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; legislators, economic developers and chambers of commerce; and other state leaders and business associations
Connex Michigan integrates with Manufacturers Marketplace, the national database that connects more than 140,000 U.S. manufacturers nationwide. Manufacturers Marketplace is populated with extensive data provided by national associations, state and local partnerships,and companies themselves, resulting in a robust industry connection tool that reduces time, money and supply-chain risk while also strengthening the U.S. manufacturing supply chain.
Detailed listings combined with the extensive search capability of Connex helps users find qualified domestic suppliers with the specific products, services and manufacturing capabilities they need. Manufacturers can also use it to find new customers whose needs fit their capabilities, to participate in OEM purchasing events, matchmaking sessions and industry forums designed to help grow a domestic supplier base, and post and respond to RFPs, RFQs and RFIs.
Connex helps users find alternative suppliers, view and analyze their supply chain, highlight single supplier and financial risks within their supply chain, see companies on government blacklists, and more.
Access to Connex Michigan is being provided free of charge to Michigan manufacturers. Manufacturers who join through April 30 will also receive free access to the Manufacturers Marketplace for life, only through the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, a $500-a-year value.
For more information, visit www.the-center.org/connex, email connex@the-center.org or call (888) 414-6682.