You Know the Manufacturers. We Know How to Help Them.
Help us help the manufacturers in your community.
Colorado’s economic developers are on the front lines with the companies that drive our local economies. You hear when a manufacturer wants to grow, needs workers, is struggling with productivity, is considering new technology, needs a supplier—or simply isn’t sure what comes next.
When you hear it, send them to us.
Manufacturer’s Edge is Colorado’s official Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center. Our job is to help Colorado manufacturers solve problems, improve performance and grow.
What’s in it for the Economic Development Organization?
Manufacturer’s Edge helps economic development organizations retain, strengthen, and grow the manufacturers already in their communities.
- Stronger Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) — We help identify and address operational, workforce, leadership, technology, and growth challenges before they become reasons for a company to stall, downsize, or leave.
- More Impact from BRE Visits — Economic developers can move beyond asking “How can we help?” by bringing ME in to diagnose issues and deliver solutions.
- Company Growth = Community Growth — Helping manufacturers expand drives jobs, capital investment, increased sales, stronger supply chains, and a larger local economic base.
- A Resource for Companies EDOs Can Trust — ME provides manufacturers with practical, vetted expertise rather than simply handing them a list of consultants or resources.
- Early Warning System — Our work with manufacturers can surface workforce shortages, facility constraints, supply-chain issues, succession concerns, or other barriers that may require the EDO’s involvement.
- Measurable Economic Impact — As Colorado’s MEP Center, our work is measured through jobs created and retained, increased and retained sales, cost savings, and new investment.
The simple value proposition:
You build the relationship. We help solve the problem. Together, we keep manufacturers growing in your community.
Six Ways We Help Manufacturers Succeed
LEADING YOUR COMPANY
Leadership Coaching • Culture & Mission • Financial Health • Emerging Leaders • Governance • Societal Responsibilities
PLANNING FOR SUCCESS
Strategic Planning • Strategic Objectives • Action Plan Deployment • Market Analysis • Organizational Alignment
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
Marketing & Website • SEO • Industry Analysis • Sales Team Development • New Product Development • Customer Segmentation
IMPROVING YOUR OPERATIONS
Key Process Requirements • Lean & Continuous Improvement • Design & Development • Supply Chain • Quality — ISO/ITAR/AS9100 • Safety
FOCUSING ON PEOPLE
Attracting, Interviewing & Onboarding • Job Quality • Developing & Retaining Staff • Pay & Benefits • Work Environment & Engagement
DECIDING WITH DATA
KPIs & Data Visualization • Technology & Information Systems • Cybersecurity & CMMC • Data Management • Analytics • Knowledge Management • Industry 4.0 • Automation
Elevate Your Executive Mindset is a hands-on leadership development program created by Colorado Manufacturing Network partners, Manufacturer’s Edge and the Warehouse Business Accelerator.
Designed specifically for rising leaders in manufacturing, this program helps managers, directors, and VPs strengthen the skills they need to lead beyond their department and contribute at a broader, organization-wide level.
Manufacturer’s Edge brought the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® (WSCM) career awareness program to Colorado to help build a strong pipeline of technical talent and give students a new perspective on exciting STEM career opportunities that exist at area manufacturing companies. The WSCM Program is implemented as a student video contest. Student Teams compete by creating short media stories featuring accurate images of today’s manufacturing and promoting their video to peers, parents, educators, and the community. The contest culminates with public online voting and an Awards Event.
Manufacturer’s Edge, is proud to announce the launch of LeanToday, an action-packed, one-day workshop designed to help organizations understand and implement Lean—the world’s #1 improvement program. This workshop will provide leaders with the knowledge and tools to overcome today’s challenges, become more effective, and achieve their mission through a structured Lean Transformation program.
One manufacturer. One connection. A much bigger economic impact.
You don’t need to diagnose the problem.
You don’t need to know which of our six pillars they need.
You don’t need to understand every program, resource or funding opportunity available to them.
Just make the connection. We’ll take it from there.
If a manufacturer in your community needs help leading, planning, growing, improving operations, developing people or using data and technology to compete — connect them with Manufacturer’s Edge.
KNOW A MANUFACTURER WE SHOULD TALK TO?
CONNECT A MANUFACTURER →
Connect with Manufacturer’s Edge
One company. That’s our ask.
Colorado roots. National resources. Stronger manufacturers. Stronger communities.
Manufacturer’s Edge — Ideal Customer Profile
Core Ideal Customer
- Established Colorado manufacturer with 15+ employees and $1M+ in annual revenue
- Revenue-positive and financially stable, with the ability to invest in improvement and growth
- Leadership has a growth mindset and is actively looking to scale, modernize, improve productivity, or strengthen the organization
- Has identifiable challenges where ME can create measurable impact—workforce, operations, technology, leadership, quality, sales/growth, or facility expansion
- Values outside expertise and is willing to commit leadership time and resources to implementation
- Good partner to work with: responsive, professional, realistic expectations, and committed to achieving results
Startups / Early-Stage Manufacturers
- Selectively serve well-funded, sophisticated startups with credible leadership and a clear path to commercialization
- Appropriate needs include facility layout, production planning, workforce training, quality systems, operational readiness, and scaling
- Must have sufficient capitalization to execute—not simply be seeking free assistance or funding
Generally Not a Fit
- Pre-revenue or chronically undercapitalized companies
- Companies primarily looking for grants or free services
- Businesses without leadership commitment or willingness to implement change
- High-maintenance/problem clients where expectations, behavior, or financial condition create unnecessary risk
Sweet Spot:
A growing, financially healthy manufacturer with 15+ employees and $1M+ in revenue whose leadership wants to invest in making the company better and bigger.