IMEC Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center

What IMEC Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center does

IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) manufacturing extension center established in 1996, headquartered at 801 W Main Street in Peoria, Illinois. The organization is the designated Illinois affiliate of the federal NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program and provides free consulting, training, and implementation support to Illinois manufacturers across six interconnected service pillars: Lead Your Company (leadership development), Plan For Success (strategic planning), Grow Your Business (sales/marketing), Improve Your Operations (Lean and quality), Focus On People (workforce development), and Decide With Data (ERP, cybersecurity, dashboards). Underlying service IP includes the proprietary Plan-Implement-Excel methodology, the E-3 Review business assessment process, and the Accelerate Operational Excellence Shop Floor Success Series. IMEC's business model is funded entirely through public sources — primarily NIST-MEP federal cooperative agreement funding, Illinois DCEO state appropriations ($1M annual line item since 2012), and grant programs including a $25M U.S. Department of Commerce award (2016), a $4M U.S. Department of Labor award (2017), and ARPA funding from Cook County and McHenry County (2022). Services are delivered free of charge to clients via 50+ full-time staff positioned statewide through offices in Peoria, Chicago, Rockford, DeKalb, and Carbondale, plus the Supply Chain Center digital platform and the IMEC BreakThrough Groups peer network.

IMEC serves 3,000+ Illinois manufacturers and reported FY2025 impacts of 3,742 companies assisted, 6,871 jobs created/retained, and $905M+ aggregate client impact, with a stated 19:1 return on investment and average client outcomes of $3.6M+ in new/retained sales and $314K+ in cost savings. The organization is led by President David Boulay (since 2011, succeeding founder Bob Weinstein) and maintains a network of strategic partners including the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (2022 strategic partnership), Bradley University, Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Southern Illinois University, Rock Valley College, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, Illinois DCEO, and county-level manufacturing grant programs in Cook, Kane, and McHenry counties. IMEC has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and is governed by an independent board of directors.

Name

IMEC Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center

Legal name

Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center

Website

https://imec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IMEC is a not-for-profit manufacturing extension center, founded 1996 and headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, that delivers free consulting, training, and operational improvement services to 3,000+ Illinois manufacturers across leadership, strategy, operations, workforce, and data-driven decision-making pillars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Consulting Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

Keywords

• Manufacturing consulting services
• Lean manufacturing training
• Operational excellence support
• Quality management consulting
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Peoria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. NIST-MEP Federal Funding: IMEC receives cooperative agreement funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology - Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST-MEP), a federal program supporting manufacturing extension centers nationwide. The original cooperative agreement was novated from Bradley University to IMEC in 1998.
2. Illinois State Funding (DCEO): IMEC receives direct state funding through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). State funding began in 2000, and IMEC obtained a line item through DCEO for $1M in 2012, which has continued annually since 2002 through legislative action.
3. Grant Programs: IMEC administers and receives funding from various grant programs including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from McHenry County and Cook County (2022), U.S. Department of Commerce $25 million grant (2016), and U.S. Department of Labor $4 million award under America's Promise grant initiative (2017).
4. Free Client Services: IMEC provides services to Illinois manufacturers at no cost to clients, with all services funded through federal and state government appropriations and grants rather than direct client payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

IMEC is a not-for-profit manufacturing extension center providing free consulting, training, and implementation support to Illinois manufacturers. Core offerings span six solution pillars (Lead Your Company, Plan For Success, Grow Your Business, Improve Your Operations, Focus On People, Decide With Data), supplemented by ISO/AS9100 auditor training, Lean workshops, grant administration, and a Supply Chain Center platform.

Product overview

IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) is a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of manufacturing consulting and support services. The core offering consists of six interconnected service pillars: Lead Your Company (leadership development), Plan For Success (strategic planning), Grow Your Business (sales and marketing), Improve Your Operations (operational excellence), Focus On People (workforce development), and Decide With Data (technology and analytics). These are complemented by specialized grant programs (NextGen Makers Internship, Extended Kane County Manufacturing Grant, Made in Illinois, Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented, Advance McHenry County), the Supply Chain Center platform, and training courses (ISO 9001, AS9100D auditor training, Lean Manufacturing). The organization serves 3,000+ Illinois manufacturers with demonstrated 19:1 ROI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lead Your Company Leadership development solutions equipping manufacturing leaders to inspire teams, overcome challenges, and drive success, including Executive Strategic Leadership, Executive Development Accelerator, and Business and Talent Succession Planning.
• Plan For Success
• Grow Your Business
• Improve Your Operations
• Focus On People
• Decide With Data
• ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Training
• AS9100D Internal Auditor Training
• Lean Manufacturing Overview with Simulation
• Accelerate Operational Excellence (Shop Floor Success Series)
• Develop Your Leaders
• NextGen Makers Internship Program
• Made in Illinois Grant Program
• Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented
• Extended Kane County Manufacturing Grant Program
• Advance McHenry County Manufacturing Grants
• Supply Chain Center
• Registered Apprenticeships

Quantifiable outcome

• 19:1 Return on Investment demonstrated across client engagements
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Historic formal strategic partnership announced in 2022 to strengthen and build upon Illinois' rich manufacturing legacy and position the industry for future growth. The partnership leverages IMA's manufacturing member network with IMEC's improvement expertise.
• Bradley UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal fiscal agent when IMEC was established in 1996 with NIST-MEP funding. Bradley University was part of the original IMEC network providing manufacturing services outside the six-county Chicago area.
• Rock Valley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the original IMEC network providing manufacturing services outside the six-county Chicago area.
• Southern Illinois UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the original IMEC network providing manufacturing services outside the six-county Chicago area.
• Northern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as IMEC Subrecipient for offices in northern Illinois in 2001, expanding IMEC's reach in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• University of Illinois-ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as IMEC Subrecipient for metro Chicago offices in 2010 when IMEC received cooperative agreement to provide manufacturing extension services in the Chicago metro area.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner on the Made in Illinois grant program, combining state support with IMEC's industry expertise to empower Illinois manufacturers with resources and guidance for growth, innovation, and long-term success.
• Cook County Bureau of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Manufacturing Reinvented program developed after listening to over 1,000 Cook County manufacturers to identify their top priorities. IMEC helps administer grants for productivity improvement, leadership development, workforce training, and business growth.
• Kane CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtended Kane County Manufacturing Grant Program helping local manufacturers drive continuous improvement through strategic visioning, coaching, project implementation, training, and peer learning.
• LLT GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite designer and developer for IMEC as noted in footer copyright information.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CMTC (California Manufacturing Technology Consulting): California's designated NIST-MEP center providing no-cost Lean, quality, supply chain, and growth consulting to manufacturers, structured almost identically to IMEC and operating under the same federal/state funding model.
• MAGNET (Cleveland): Northeast Ohio's MEP-affiliated manufacturing innovation and consulting organization delivering operational excellence, workforce, and growth services to regional manufacturers, funded through a similar NIST-MEP/Ohio state model.
• Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC): Texas's NIST-MEP center providing Lean, quality management systems, cybersecurity, and workforce consulting to Texas manufacturers under the same federal/state funding mechanism as IMEC.
• Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP): Ohio's MEP center offering Lean transformation, ISO/AS quality systems, supply chain, and workforce development to manufacturers statewide under the same NIST-MEP cooperative agreement framework as IMEC.
• Georgia Tech Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP): Georgia's MEP center housed at Georgia Tech providing operational excellence, technology adoption, and workforce consulting to Georgia manufacturers via the same NIST-MEP funding model that supports IMEC.
• Catalyx (formerly New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program): New Jersey's MEP center delivering Lean, quality, supply chain, and continuous improvement consulting to NJ manufacturers under the same federally designated MEP framework.
• Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP): Oregon's NIST-MEP center providing Lean/quality/growth consulting to Oregon manufacturers under the same federal cooperative agreement and state appropriations model.
• ManufacturingWorks (Wisconsin MEP): Wisconsin's MEP center providing operational excellence and growth consulting to Wisconsin manufacturers via the same NIST-MEP/state appropriation framework as IMEC.
• TPM (Pennsylvania Manufacturing Extension Partnership): Pennsylvania's MEP center delivering Lean, quality, technology, and workforce solutions to PA manufacturers under the same federally funded MEP designation.

Broad incumbents

• NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP Program Office): Federal program office under NIST that funds and oversees all 51 MEP centers including IMEC; not a competitor but the umbrella institution whose policy decisions directly drive IMEC's funding and operating constraints.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IMECillinois
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv0gG9rS3Yft0cHC0aA5a0g
• Facebookfacebook.com/IMECIllinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/626277
• Instagraminstagram.com/imec_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments27 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IMEC Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center