CMTC Ranked 5th in the Nation for Benefiting Manufacturers; 85% of Clients Experience Positive Business Impact.

GARDENA, Calif. -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, recently ranked California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) 5th in having measurable beneficial impacts of its clients among all 60 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in the United States.

In NIST's letter to CMTC President David Braunstein, Federal Program Officer Phillip Wadsworth wrote: "The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) would like to congratulate you on your center's performance for the third quarter of 2004... Of special mention, your Percent Quantified Impact is ranked fifth best nationwide." According to NIST, the percent quantified impact is a measure that provides an indicator of CMTC's ability to provide services increasing sales and decreasing costs for their clients.

NIST, conducting an independent third party survey of CMTC clients, found that nearly 85% of CMTC's clients in the survey period had experienced increased sales, cost savings, job growth and avoidance of unnecessary investments as a result of CMTC's work. Over the FY 2004 reporting period, CMTC's manufacturing client's sales increased by $328 million. During that same time, client's reported savings of $51 million. Both of these figures represent high water marks for CMTC in a survey period. Given that CMTC clients have historically experienced more than a 3-to1 return-on-investment, the increase in revenue and savings represents a very significant positive impact for these manufacturers.

Many studies are finding that small manufacturers who work with their local NIST MEP center show dramatic improvements. As such, MEP has been named one of the 100 best resources for small businesses under the category of Operations by BIZBEST100 publication.

"Providing hands-on expertise to help companies achieve their goals is what we do," said David Braunstein, President and CEO of CMTC. "We have worked with over 3000 companies since 1992, from 20 man production shops to some of the largest distributors and manufacturers in California, if not the nation. These companies are developing World Class competitive products -- and, I think, making them faster, better and cheaper due to our team of consultants."

Braunstein continued: "The results from NIST are a further indication that plants in Southern California are operating more efficiently due to the latest and most innovative improvement techniques in manufacturing. CMTC has achieved these results with our customers because we adapt and develop resources specifically for each client, their need and their industry. And, perhaps most importantly in this still recovering economy, when companies put these best practices to use, not only do they increase revenue and cut costs, but they create jobs."

One of the leading indicators that businesses had positive impact is job growth and retention. CMTC created more than 3,000 manufacturing jobs in California according to companies surveyed in 2004. Due to the fact that so many other industries are dependent on manufacturing, those 3,000+ jobs led to the creation of additional 7,600 additional jobs elsewhere in the supply chain.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING

A private, nonprofit corporation, CMTC was established in 1992 to provide high value consulting services to California's high tech and traditional small and medium-size manufacturer to increase their competitive advantage through improved methods of management and manufacturing. Today, through its seven regional teams, CMTC provides consulting services in the practice areas of Strategic Business, Lean Enterprise, Information Technology, Energy Services, Quality and Supply Chain Management. CMTC's regional teams cover Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County, Ventura/Santa Barbara County, the San Fernando/San Gabriel Valley, the San Joaquin Valley and San Diego/Imperial County. For more information, visit www.cmtc.com.