As part of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) works to promote U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards. NIST carries out its mission through a portfolio of four major programs:

• Measurement and Standards Laboratories that provide technical leadership for vital components of the nation's technology infrastructure needed by U.S. industry to continually improve its products and services;
• rigorously competitive Advanced Technology Program providing cost-shared awards to industry for development of high-risk, enabling technologies with broad economic potential
• grassroots Manufacturing Extension Partnership with a nationwide network of local centers offering technical and business assistance to smaller manufacturers; and
• highly visible quality outreach program associated with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award that recognizes continuous improvements in quality management by U.S. manufacturers and service companies.

In fiscal year 1998, NIST is operating on a budget of about $790 million with nearly 3,300 staff members at its sites in Gaithersburg, Md., and Boulder, Colo. News and general information about NIST programs and services are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.nist.gov, or call General Inquiries at (301) 975-3058 or e-mail: inquiries@nist.gov.

About the Advanced Technology Program

NIST's Advanced Technology Program (ATP) provides competitive, cost-shared awards for industry to develop high-risk, enabling technologies with broad-based economic benefit. ATP seeks to help industry fill the gap between basic research and product development, and invest in technology that would not be developed in a competitive time frame without government cost-sharing. Along with general competitions which are open to proposals from all technical areas, ATP is also funding a series of focused programs with well-defined research and business goals.

Purpose of This Workshop

The purpose of this workshop is to provide detailed planning and recommendations for a potential focused program in this topical area and confirm such a program's linkage to industry's needs. Representatives from companies or groups of companies, technical and trade associations, academic institutions, non-profit research institutions, and government laboratories are strongly encouraged to participate in exploring an ATP focused program in this important area. Please prepare comments or brief presentations, which should be limited to 10 minutes (4 or 5 transparencies) and address the focused program selection criteria, described in the Background section of this brochure.

This meeting is not intended to identify or promote specific technical ideas or proposals that could be submitted to ATP programs.

Background

The intent of this proposed effort is to leverage American leadership in engineering and the physical sciences into a position of global leadership in manufacturing. Based in part on a review of the current portfolio of projects in manufacturing, including those awarded in the Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Technology program, this effort will concentrate on the areas of component and product assembly, joining, and material handling. Technological improvements in these areas will have broad impact on durable goods manufacturing, including the automotive, aerospace, fabricated metal products, electrical and non-electrical machinery, and precision instruments industries. Because the selection of potential program areas begins with suggestions from industry, the ATP strongly encourages all interested parties to prepare and send in white papers which clearly outline ideas for focused programs. Each white paper should first describe the author's view of the best technical themes for a focused program in the area of advanced manufacturing technology, and then explain how these themes are consistent with the following selection criteria: the potential for U.S. economic benefit, evidence of good technical ideas, strong industry commitment, and opportunity for ATP funds to make a difference.

Program idea white papers are available for public review and must contain no proprietary information. To be considered for inclusion in the white paper presentation session, the paper must be received by one of the technical contacts no later than May 22, 1998.

Agenda

Location

The workshop will be held at the Gaithersburg Holiday Inn, 2 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Gaithersburg is located approximately 25 miles northwest of Washington, DC. Three airports are easily accessible to the Gaithersburg area: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Dulles International Airport.

Contacts

Registration

Tammie Grice
NIST
Telephone: (301) 975-3883
Fax: (301) 948-2067
Email: tammie.grice@nist.gov

Technical Contacts

Jack Boudreaux
NIST/Advanced Technology Program
Telephone: (301) 975-3560
Fax: (301) 548-1087
Email:jack.boudreaux@nist.gov

Thomas Lettieri
NIST/Advanced Technology Program
Telephone: (301) 975-3496
Fax: (301) 926-9524
Email: thomas.lettieri@nist.gov

Business Contact

George Gillespie
NIST/Advanced Technology Program
Telephone: (301) 975-5346
Fax: (301) 548-1087

Additional Information

For additional general information, or to add your name to the ATP mailing list, please contact the ATP:

Hotline: 800-ATP-FUND, or 800-287-3863
Worldwide Web: http://www.atp.nist.gov
Email: atp@nist.gov

Transportation

Super Shuttle, 1-800-258-3826, offers commercial van service from Baltimore-Washington International, Dulles International, and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports to the Gaithersburg area. Call for reservations.

The Washington Metro system has subway service to Gaithersburg and can be boarded at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Take the Yellow Line train marked Mount Vernon Square to Gallery Place and transfer to the Red Line train marked Shady Grove to the Shady Grove station in Gaithersburg. Service is every six to fifteen minutes, depending on the time of day. Travel time from Ronald Reagan Washington to Shady Grove is approximately 50 minutes. Taxis are available from the Shady Grove Metro station to area hotels.

A NIST shuttle van operates for official visitors and conference attendees from the Shady Grove Metro station to NIST. The van leaves the Shady Grove station on the quarter and three-quarter hour (e.g., 8:15, 8:45...4:45, 5:15) from the east side parking lot.

Driving Directions

To reach the Gaithersburg Holiday Inn:

Registration

The registration fee of $125 per person includes workshop materials, coffee breaks, and a luncheon. The enclosed registration form (WordPerfect document: 6-98wreg.wpd) must be received by Wednesday, May 20, 1998, for your name to appear on the preliminary participant's list. All requests for cancellation and refund must be submitted to Tammie Grice, in writing, prior to May 20. Registration can also be done electronically via the Internet at:

Accommodations

Workshop registration does not include your hotel reservation. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Gaithersburg Holiday Inn, (301) 948-8900. The special room rate is $85, single or double, plus 12% tax. To register for a room, please use the enclosed hotel reservation form and send it directly to the hotel no later than Wednesday, May 20, 1998. After that date, the rooms will be released for general sale at the prevailing rates of the hotel. If you call in your reservation, please refer to the "NIST/ATP Workshop."

Coffee Breaks and Lunch

Refreshments will be provided during the morning, mid-morning, and mid-afternoon breaks. Lunch will also be provided.

General information

Hotel Reservation

Please complete form and return by May 20, 1998, to:

Register for Conference

Please complete registration form and return by May 20, 1998, to:

Requests for cancellation and refund must be received in writing by May 20, 1998.

Date created: March 22, 1998
Last updated: May 6, 2003