ME3 FAQ
What is ME3?
ME3 stands for “Milwaukee Economy, Energy and Environment.” Economy, Energy and Environment, or E3, is a national model innovatively delivering technical assistance to small and medium sized manufacturers that want to cut costs while at the same time minimize negative environmental impacts of their production processes.
The City of Milwaukee wants to bring this approach to our manufacturing community and has reached out to a range of partners from across the city, state and region to form a Milwaukee E3 (or ME3) program. The City has identified partners who bring a particular area of industrial expertise to the table so that the ME3 Team will be able to assess a range of sustainability related challenges facing small and medium sized manufacturers from energy efficiency, to logistics, to waste reduction, to more efficient materials management.
The City and its partners that form the ME3 Team signed a Charter committing to working together to address critical sustainability needs of Milwaukee’s small and medium sized manufacturers. As a result, ME3’s mission is to improve the competitiveness of small and medium sized manufacturers in Milwaukee by promoting the implementation of cost-effective sustainable manufacturing practices and technologies that collectively reduce community-wide negative environmental impacts.
What is “sustainable manufacturing”?
Sustainable manufacturing is defined as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities, and consumers and are economically sound (U.S. Department of Commerce).
Who are the organizations that comprise the ME3 Team?
ME3 Program Manager:
The following organizations have signed a Charter agreeing to work collaboratively with and support the City’s ME3 program:
Can I participate?
To apply you must be a manufacturer located in the City of Milwaukee; additionally, ME3 is targeting small and medium sized manufacturers (NAICS 31, 32 and 33) with between 20 and 500 employees.
NAICS Listing: www.census.gov/prod/ec07/07numlist/07numlist.html
How much does it cost?
There is no application fee or initial cost to participate. Additionally, the ME3 Diagnostic and Assessment will be free. However, to qualify for the free Diagnostic and Assessment you must sign the “Commitment to the ME3 Process.” There will be grants available for process and practice implementation also subject to the terms of the “Commitment to the ME3 Process.” See “What will ME3 do for my business?” for more information on the ME3 process.
What is the Commitment to the ME3 Process I will have to sign to participate?
You will receive a comprehensive manufacturing process and practice diagnostic and assessment as well as have access to grants for implementation if you agree to a few simple items:
- Identify a single point-of-contact who will be dedicated to this process and working with the ME3 Team;
- Allow ME3 Partners to publicize successes (without disclosing confidential business information*) in your firm resulting from the ME3 process and implementation;
- Fill out a workforce skills and education needs survey and conduct an in-person follow-up with a local workforce development expert;
- So that the City can better understand the interaction between surface area of a facility and storm water flows, allow an expert from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to gather relevant site-specific data on storm water flows to the sewer system (purely for informational purposes);
- Should you implement a sustainable manufacturing process or practice, you will engage the ME3 Team on a follow-up basis once a quarter for one year; and
- Should you implement a sustainable manufacturing process or practice, you will form an internal “environmental management team” of management and line staff.
*All records will be confidentially maintained and data will be share only in aggregated form.
What will ME3 do for my business?
Using quantifiable metrics and a team of recognized industry experts, ME3 will work with you to cut your operating costs while at the same time minimize negative environmental impacts from your manufacturing processes. E3 efforts in other parts of the country ultimately have resulted in jobs created or retained. With your help, the ME3 Team will work to deliver quick results with short investment paybacks.
How does the ME3 Process work?
If your application is accepted, the ME3 program is a 5 step process: (1) applicant interview; (2) comprehensive manufacturing process/practice diagnostic; (3) best return on investment process/practice assessment; (4) best return on investment process/practice implementation; and, (5) follow-up and continuous improvement.
Step 1 – Applicant Interview: The entire process is intensive yet collaborative. The ME3 Team will work with you to ensure that your input and manufacturing needs drive the ME3 process. In the applicant interview, several ME3 Team members will sit down with you for an hour long interview to better understand your line of business and potential areas of need or concern. After the interview, the ME3 Team will schedule a time convenient for you to run the ME3 comprehensive manufacturing process/practice diagnostic.
Step 2 – Diagnostic: The diagnostic is a process of discovery. Therefore, you will need to commit at least a half-day of time as ME3 independent industry and manufacturing experts walk through your facility and your entire production process, from material or natural resource input through product delivery. The purpose of the diagnostic is to allow the ME3 Team to identify the range of potential sustainability drivers that may be negatively impacting your costs like inefficient energy or water use, logistics challenges, or inefficient management of material or natural resource inputs. The ME3 Team will work with you to identify several sustainable process or practice improvements that have quality returns on investment. Based on the diagnostic and ME3 Team input, you will identify a process or practice (or multiple ones) that meets your priorities. This process or practice will then be the subject of an intensive technical assessment by an independent expert in that field.
Step 3 – Assessment: The assessment phase is a “deep dive” into the best return on investment sustainable process or practice of your choice based on the diagnostic and input from the ME3 Team. An independent industry expert or team of experts will work with you over the course of several weeks to scope out the sustainable manufacturing process or practice to implement.
Step 4 – Implementation: The ME3 Team will provide implementation grants on a sliding scale depending on the dollar amount of the sustainable process or practice to be implemented. By agreeing to the Commitment to the ME3 Process you will be eligible for an implementation grant ranging from $1000 to $10,000. The ME3 Team will work with you to identify additional financing should you need their assistance.
Step 5 – Follow-up and Continuous Improvement: As part of your acceptance of the Commitment to the ME3 Process, you agree to periodic follow-up with the ME3 Team to discuss challenges, needs and continuous improvement ideas. You will be asked to meet once a quarter with a ME3 Team member for 1 calendar year following implementation of your sustainable process or practice. One of the major benefits to you of participation in the ME3 process is having direct access to a powerful network of statewide service providers that can address a range of business needs from sustainable manufacturing issues, to financial counseling, to workforce training. We encourage you to tap into this resource network to address all of your firm’s most pressing needs.
How do I apply?
Before you apply we encourage you to contact OES for more information by emailing “ME3 Team” at sustainability@milwaukee.gov or by calling (414) 286-8317.
Click HERE to find application instructions and download an application.
Applications are due March 31, 2012. Accepted applicants will be notified on a rolling basis until all slots are filled.
For more information or to register for an informational session, email “ME3 Team” at sustainability@milwaukee.gov.