Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.

MEP is a nationwide network of not-for-profit centers in nearly 350 locations nationwide whose sole purpose is to provide small and medium sized manufacturers with the services they need to succeed. The centers, serving all 50 States and Puerto Rico, are linked together through the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. Centers are funded by federal, state, local and private resources to serve manufacturers. That makes it possible for even the smallest firms to tap into the expertise of knowledgeable manufacturing and business specialists all over the United States. These specialists are people who have had experience on manufacturing floors and in plant operations.

The National Association of Manufacturers was founded in 1895 to advance a pro-growth,     pro-manufacturing policy agenda. More than a century later, the NAM continues to be the leading voice for manufacturers in the United States.

ASQ is a society of individual and organizational members dedicated to the ongoing development, advancement and promotion of quality concepts, principles and techniques. ASQ's vision is to advance individual and organizational performance excellence worldwide by providing opportunities for learning, quality improvement and knowledge exchange.