If you have worked with GENEDGE, you may have received a survey several months after your project concluded. That survey is not marketing. It is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, known as NIST MEP.
For some manufacturers, the survey can feel like one more administrative task in an already full schedule. This article explains what the survey is, why it exists, and why your participation matters.
What Is the NIST MEP Survey?
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a national network of manufacturing assistance centers operating in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. GENEDGE is Virginia’s official MEP Center.
After a project is completed, NIST MEP requires that an independent third party contact the client to collect impact information. This typically occurs six to twelve months after project completion to allow time for results to materialize.
In some cases, you may be contacted again in a second or even third year. This is intentional. Many manufacturing improvements compound over time. Cost savings, revenue growth, capital investment, and job impacts often continue beyond the first year. Follow-up surveys help capture the full effect of the work.
The survey focuses on measurable outcomes such as:
- Increased or retained sales
- Cost savings
- Capital investment
- Jobs created or retained
The survey is confidential. Individual company data is not shared publicly. Results are aggregated at the state and national levels.
Why Does NIST Require It?
NIST MEP is funded in part through federal appropriations. That funding must be justified through demonstrated economic impact.
The survey serves several purposes:
- Accountability
It provides objective validation that taxpayer dollars are producing measurable economic results. - Program Continuity
Continued federal funding depends on demonstrated return on investment. - Capturing Long Term Impact
Manufacturing improvements rarely stop at project close. Repeat surveys allow NIST to measure sustained and expanding results over multiple years. - National Manufacturing Policy Insight
Aggregated data helps federal and state leaders understand where manufacturers are investing, growing, and facing challenges.
Independent surveys strengthen the credibility of the entire MEP system. Without reliable impact data, the program would not exist in its current form.
Yes, It Can Feel Like an Inconvenience
Manufacturers are busy. Financial results may still be developing. Estimating impact can feel imprecise. Being contacted more than once can raise understandable questions.
Common concerns include:
- “The numbers are still evolving.”
- “We do not have exact figures yet.”
- “Didn’t we already complete this last year?”
NIST understands this. Reasonable estimates and general ranges are acceptable. The survey is designed to be brief and focused. Follow-up surveys are typically even faster because they build on prior responses.
Participation usually takes less than 15 minutes.
Why Participation Matters to Virginia Manufacturers
For Virginia, survey participation does more than satisfy a federal requirement.
It directly affects:
- The level of federal funding Virginia receives
- GENEDGE’s ability to reduce service costs through leveraged MEP funding
- The long term sustainability of manufacturing support programs
When manufacturers respond, it strengthens Virginia’s case for continued investment in operational improvement, quality systems, workforce development, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain resilience.
In practical terms, survey participation helps ensure that future manufacturers can access subsidized, high-impact services.
The Bigger Picture
Manufacturing is a cornerstone of economic stability and national security. Programs that support operational performance and technology adoption require credible evidence of effectiveness.
The NIST MEP survey is that evidence.
It is not about marketing metrics. It is about measurable economic outcomes sustained over time.
GENEDGE views the survey process as part of a disciplined system that ties results to resources. That accountability is one reason the MEP program has endured for decades.
If you are contacted to complete the survey, even for a second or third year, we encourage you to participate. Your response supports not just GENEDGE, but the broader manufacturing community across Virginia and across the country.
