Manex, a NIST MEP network affiliate, Plays a Key Role in Helping Small and Midsize Companies Improve Their Innovation Processes

SAN RAMON, CA - January 4, 2007 - Booz Allen Hamilton released the second annual study of the world's 1,000 largest corporate R&D budgets on December 14, 2006. The Global Innovation 1000 study identifies 94 "high-leverage innovators," that consistently spend less than their competitors on R&D yet outperform their industries across a wide range of performance metrics. The report references the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), with whom Manex is an affiliate, stating that the program plays a key role in helping small and midsize companies improve their innovation processes.

Brent Meyers, Manex CEO, has a significant role in developing the program's innovation products and services as a member of the NIST MEP national Innovation Steering Group. This Steering Group is chartered to position the MEP system as a product and process innovation catalyst for U.S. small and medium-sized manufacturers.

By tapping into the knowledge of business experts and innovation specialists through the NIST MEP program, these companies gain a competitive edge and distinguish themselves not by the money they spend on R&D, but by the capabilities they demonstrate in ideation, project selection, development, or commercialization. If these high achievers have one thing in common, it seems to be a focus on building multifunctional, company-wide capabilities that can provide them with sustainable competitive advantage. They design their innovation investment for the long run, and create superior growth and profitability over time.

Download the Booz Allen Hamilton Resilience Report at: http://www.strategy-business.com/resilience/rr00039

About Manex
Founded in 1995, The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) (www.manexconsulting.com) provides a broad array of proven advisory and implementation solutions exclusively to manufacturers, distributors and their supply chains, enabling them to increase growth, productivity, quality and profitability. Manex delivers high-impact solutions in four key areas: strategy, people, process and performance. Meaningful, rapid impact and ROI are achieved through a modular-yet-holistic approach encompassing corporate strategy and planning, marketing strategy, training and development, lean manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, Six Sigma, ISO and performance management systems.