SAN RAMON, CA - September 10, 2008 - Northern California small manufacturers reported significant benefits as a result of retaining The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) as their strategic consulting partner. With an overall $99 million increase in sales in 2006 and 2007, these manufacturers have shown significant growth even in the face of a slowing economy. An additional $35 million in retained sales was achieved for a combined total of $134 million in revenue impact from implementing recommended business improvements.

Business improvement results were compiled by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through Synovate, an independent 3rd party, and included:

• $134 million in increased and retained sales
• $39 million in cost savings
• $94 million invested in plant, equipment and workforce development
• 683 created or retained jobs

Combined, the financial impact represents approximately a 38:1 return on manufacturers' investment in advisory solutions and a 55:1 return on the federal investment to improve small manufacturer's competitiveness by enabling high-impact advisory solutions that would otherwise be unavailable to them. NIST MEP is frequently cited as among the country's most effective and successful public-private partnerships.

"These results are a testament to manufacturers' commitment to invest in strategic improvements that have in turn dramatically impacted their top and bottom lines," said Brent Meyers, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manex. "Our team is fully dedicated to helping manufacturers prosper in this extremely challenging business environment. It is tremendously exciting and rewarding to work with these manufacturers to aggressively implement holistic approaches and innovative solutions to produce rapid and sustained results."

As a member of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, Manex helps manufacturers significantly increase growth, productivity, quality and profitability.

About Manex
Founded in 1995, The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) 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. For more information visit, www.manexconsulting.com.