FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/3/2022

Manufacturer’s Edge Launches the Colorado Manufacturing Network Supporting the Manufacturing Industry Through the Sustainment Platform

Denver, Colorado – In collaboration with founding partners, the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association (CAMA), the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC), and Sustainment Technologies, Inc. (Sustainment), Manufacturer’s Edge formally announced the launch of the Colorado Manufacturing Network (CMN) at the EDCC annual Drive | Lead | Succeed conference in Pueblo on October 20, 2022.

The CMN is a digital manufacturing community and part of a growing national network designed to leverage innovative technologies to better serve and connect US manufacturers to each other, to government and commercial buyers, and to national, state, and local support resources. One of the unique features of the platform is that access to CMN is free for manufacturers and support organizations; buyers pay a modest subscription fee to access best-fit sourcing algorithms and other tools that help them find and connect with manufacturers. Originally developed in partnership with the US Air Force to expose a larger pool of capable US small and medium-sized manufacturers to service its heavy industry requirements, Sustainment’s technology is considered the first AI-based Industry 4.0 market network platform.

Manufacturer’s Edge serves small and medium-sized manufacturers across all industry sectors and areas of operation throughout Colorado. As the official MEP Center for state and the designated CMN administrator, Manufacturer’s Edge is focused on engaging the platform to drive more business to the state’s manufacturing base, to help Colorado buyers localize and strengthen their supply chains, and to help coordinate the efforts of the state’s myriad manufacturing support resources. Within the next few years, Manufacturer’s Edge envisions a stronger, more connected, and more resilient manufacturing ecosystem for the state of Colorado.

Colorado manufacturers can create a profile and access the benefits of Sustainment at  manufacturersedge.com/co-mfg-network. The platform’s tools and experience are intuitive and deliver value beyond connecting buyers and sellers. Sustainment’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Carroll describes one of the company’s product development mandates, “Our buyers demand accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date information and they want to know the people behind the business.  Our ongoing mission is to provide a level of value, trust, and user experience that drives our manufacturing community to not only provide their information but to engage with the platform on a regular basis.”

Jennifer Hagan-Dier, VP and COO of Manufacturer’s Edge added, “One thing we learned during the COVID pandemic is that we are stronger together. Investments of time and money in ecosystem building increase collaboration, leverage existing resources, and provide opportunities to identify and drive initiatives to benefit Colorado manufacturers.”

Manufacturer’s Edge CEO Glenn Plagens explained the importance and potential impact of this initiative, “The Colorado Manufacturing Network resides on the most robust supply chain tool in the country. Manufacturer’s Edge is proud to partner with Sustainment and other statewide organizations CAMA, EDCC, and OEDIT to convene the Colorado Manufacturing Network. We are at a time of significant importance for manufacturing. Utilizing the Sustainment platform, the Colorado Manufacturing Network will bring the connections, tools, and resources to the manufacturing community that they need to grow and prosper.”

About Manufacturer’s Edge

As Colorado’s official Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center, Manufacturer’s Edge (ME) provides onsite support, strategy, planning, training, and technical assistance to manufacturers of all sizes. Colorado’s unique manufacturing landscape has given ME experience across industries. Our clients drive technology development, creativity, and new products, and we work closely with them to make sure their work reaches its intended audience. Using a combination of local insights, diverse experience, and true commitment to providing manufacturers support, ME is dedicated to growing and improving the manufacturing landscape.

About Sustainment

Sustainment is a public benefit corporation with a mission to better serve and connect the US SME manufacturing base.  The company is military veteran led and they envision the American manufacturing base as a hyperconnected, secure, and resilient ecosystem of local and regional suppliers who can easily interact and transact with each other, buyers, and the organizations that both support and rely on them. Its software enables US-based manufacturers to find and engage with the critical suppliers they need to build secure, resilient, domestic supplier networks.

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Media Inquiries:  

Jessica Cowden
Director of Marketing & Communications,
Manufacturer’s Edge
jcowden@manufacturersedge.com

Katie Sihler
Vice President, Marketing,
Sustainment
katie.sihler@sustainment.tech