[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39491-39492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19056]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Announcement of a Meeting to Discuss an Opportunity To Join a 
Cooperative Research and Development Consortium on a NIST MEP eBusiness 
Demonstration Testbed

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
invites interested parties to attend a meeting on August 21, 2001 to 
discuss the possibility of setting up a cooperative research 
consortium. The objective of this consortium is to address interrelated 
technical and non-technical problems associated with the adoption of 
eBusiness practices and technologies by smaller U.S. manufacturing 
firms.

DATES: The meeting will take place on August 21 at 9 a.m. Interested 
parties should contact NIST to confirm their interest at the address, 
telephone number or FAX number shown below.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place in Building 101, Lecture Room B, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8422.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David C. Cranmer, Supply & Plant 
(301), Room C143, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001. Telepnone: 301-975-5735; FAX: 301-926-
3787; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) has 
identified a number of interrelated technical and non-techical problems 
associated with the adoption of eBusiness practices and technologies by 
smaller U.S. manufacturing firms. The problems include but are not 
limited to lack of awareness of the requirements of original equipment 
manufacturers (OEMs) and others for adoption of some of these 
methodologies; the benefits, opportunities, and limitations of these 
practices and technologies; incompatibility and/or poor fit of 
applications with business processes used by smaller manufacturers; 
incompatibility of applications with one another with respect to data 
transfer, which frequently requires data to be reentered in subsequent 
applications; and authenticity/security of data and information 
systems. NIST MEP believes that these problems can be solved in part 
through the creation of an eBusiness demonstration testbed. The purpose 
of the testbed is to allow MEP Centers and manufacturing companies to 
experience high impact technologies integral to competing and 
succeeding in the electronic marketplace using a series of simulations 
reflective of different types and sophistications of virtual 
manufacturing companies, and be able

[[Page 39492]]

to provide feedback to the testbed participants on these technologies 
and their use in various environments and conditions. This will provide 
improved knowledge of the needs of smaller U.S. manufacturers leading 
to improved tools, products and services, which will in turn enhance 
their global competitiveness.
    NIST MEP has prepared a document of supplemental information about 
the testbed and its activities, the types of problems and approaches to 
solutions, selection criteria for inclusion in the testbed, provisions 
of cooperative research and development or other agreements, and the 
NIST MEP program. This document is available on the NIST MEP website 
(www.mep.nist.gov), or can be requested from NIST MEP by calling 
301.975.5020, by fax at 301.975.6556, or by e-mail to 
[email protected].

    Dated: July 25, 2001.
Karen H. Brown,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 01-19056 Filed 7-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M