Advanced Technology

Our process is called the 7 Steps of Technology Adoption, and it allows manufacturers of all sizes to enter at any step and receive support based on your readiness and needs. Utah-MEP will provide you with support at every stage to help move any project forward, meeting manufacturers where they are to make a real difference today.

Robotics helps manufacturers work smarter, faster, and more efficiently while improving productivity, quality, and competitiveness. Utah-MEP can help you develop and implement a rock-solid robotics plan.

• Identify the specific process, bottleneck, or challenge robotics is meant to solve. 
• Consider equipment costs, integration, programming, maintenance, training, labor savings, and expected payback period.
• Choose the right level of automation and consider worker interaction.
• Make sure the facility layout, production processes, material flow, and equipment can accommodate automation.
• Choose solutions that can be adapted or expanded as production volumes, products, and business needs change.

AI can help manufacturers make smarter decisions, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and uncover opportunities for optimization across the entire operation. Let Utah-MEP help you get started to identify and implement realistic applications of AI that solve everyday problems.

• Identify areas, such as predictive maintenance, quality control, demand forecasting, scheduling, or process optimization, where AI can deliver immediate value.
• AI depends on reliable, accessible data, so make sure your data is ready.
• Consider how AI will work with current machinery, automation, ERP/MES platforms, software, and production processes rather than operating as a standalone solution.
• Prepare your workforce to understand, use, monitor, and work alongside AI systems while identifying opportunities for AI to augment rather than simply replace human expertise. 
• Establish safeguards for sensitive production, customer, and business data and consider cybersecurity risks associated with connected AI systems.

Automation makes workers’ jobs easier by using machines, robots and control systems to automate tasks. Utah-MEP will help with all your automation needs, providing higher quality, greater employee engagement, and bigger cost savings.

• Define your goals and identify the right opportunity.
• Evaluate available space, equipment placement, material flow, utilities, and infrastructure.
• Choose the right technology and make sure new automation can communicate with and work alongside existing equipment, machinery, software, and production systems. 
• Prepare your workforce and prioritize safety.
• Think beyond the equipment and pay attention to people, processes, technology, data, and organizational change automation will affect.

Advanced Materials can help manufacturers create stronger, lighter, more durable, and higher-performing products and the Utah-MEP can help you open the door to these exciting new applications and competitive advantages. 

• Determine where advanced materials can solve a specific challenge or improve performance, durability, weight, cost, or functionality. 

• Consider whether existing equipment, processes, tooling, and workforce capabilities can effectively handle the new material—or whether new capabilities are needed. 
• Look beyond the material’s purchase price to consider sourcing, availability, processing requirements, waste, equipment costs, and overall lifecycle costs.
• Consider workforce expertise and what training or specialized knowledge employees might require.

Additive Manufacturing can help manufacturers produce complex parts more efficiently, accelerate product development, reduce material waste, and create new possibilities for customized and innovative products. Utah-MEP can put you on the right path and help you implement an effective plan.

• Evaluate different additive manufacturing processes and materials based on strength, durability, precision, production volume, cost, and the intended application. 
• Determine how additive manufacturing will fit with existing design, printing, post-processing, finishing, inspection, and assembly processes. 
• Consider equipment, materials, labor, post-processing, maintenance, and production time to ensure a meaningful return on investment. 
• Prepare employees who may need new skills in digital design, 3D modeling, machine operation, materials, quality control, and post-processing.
• Think beyond prototyping and evaluate whether your plan can also support tooling, replacement parts, low-volume production, or full-scale manufacturing.

Biotechnology can help manufacturers develop more sustainable processes, create innovative products, improve efficiency, and use biological systems to solve challenges that conventional manufacturing cannot. Utah-MEP can help you develop a cutting-edge plan to implement this cutting-edge technology.

• Determine where biotechnology can provide a meaningful advantage in developing new materials, improving production processes, reducing waste, or creating more sustainable products. 
• Consider what specialized equipment, environmental controls, sanitation procedures, monitoring systems, or changes to existing production infrastructure may be needed. 
• Identify applicable regulations, quality standards, environmental requirements, and safety protocols. 
• Prepare employees who may need training in biotechnology principles, specialized equipment, contamination control, quality assurance, and safety procedures. 
• Establish reliable methods for monitoring biological processes and ensuring consistent product quality from batch to batch.