COLUMBIA, SC - February 24, 2004 - The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) today released its 2003 financial impact numbers for South Carolina manufacturing companies who are its customers. For the fourth straight year, SCMEP reported an increase in sales by its customers, with manufacturers reporting $188.4 million in sales attributable to SCMEP’s assistance. The reported sales impact is almost a $53 million increase in cumulative sales for SCMEP’s customers compared to 2002 figures.

Despite the continued downturn in the manufacturing economy, SCMEP reported that manufacturers increased their bottom lines through cost-saving measures to the tune of $31 million. That figure is a 136 percent increase over 2002. The organization also reported its consulting services helped South Carolina companies create and/or retain 1,433 jobs in the manufacturing sector.

Capital investment in manufacturing facilities also increased from $25.5 million in 2002 to $78 million in 2003.

"Economic impact numbers are important because they show how SCMEP has been able to positively affect South Carolina’s economy through its work with small manufacturers," says John Irion, SCMEP president. "Overall, the economic impact ramifications for the state are positive, and increasing year by year. The numbers show that SCMEP provides a definitive return-on-investment for small companies who are the backbone of our state’s economy and who in turn impact the greater economy. SCMEP is actively helping to halt the decline of South Carolina’s manufacturing base."

A complete copy of SCMEP’s 2003 financial impact statement, containing these numbers and more, is available by contacting Dana Todd, SCMEP, danatodd@scmep.org.

About SCMEP

The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), headquartered in Columbia, SC, is a not-for-profit organization that helps manufacturers throughout the state solve business and supply chain process problems. Supported by the state legislature and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST), SCMEP offers business and technology assessments, engineering expertise and lean manufacturing solutions to South Carolina manufacturers in search of a single solution for supply chain synchronization and internal optimization processes. SCMEP provides this business and technology support to manufacturers through onsite consultations, partnerships with state technical colleges, research universities, and the S.C. Department of Commerce to provide educational programs, online assessment, an e-services portal, and other business tools. Using SCMEP’s services enables manufacturers to see business benefits at a faster rate and enhances economic development in South Carolina. To learn more about SCMEP, call 803.252.6976 or visit the web site at <http://www.scmep.org>.

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