Dakota Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the North Dakota State University (NDSU) College of Engineering and Architecture announces a new partnership to assist small- to medium-sized manufacturing companies in North Dakota.

This partnership is the result of efforts by Gary mith, Dean of the College of Engineering, Kambiz Farahmand, Head of the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department and Dave Lehman, Manufacturing Specialist, with the NDSU college of Engineering, to develop stronger synergies with the Dakota MEP – who also has been developing manufacturing companies and the manufacturing industry in North Dakota at the core of their mission. The goal of the partnership is to help companies make improvement and to realize quantifiable benefits and impacts as a result. 

Dave works with inventors and companies to help increase the transfer of knowledge and technology between North Dakota State University and North Dakota manufacturers, and will work with and represent the Dakota MEP with the state’s manufacturers. Dave will be of service to companies by helping them identify needs and connecting them with the appropriate resource within Dakota MEP and NDSU. 

Randy Schwartz of Dakota MEP says, “Dakota MEP is looking forward to continuing to help manufacturers in North Dakota become more profitable, productive and competitive. This partnership offers us additional resources to ensure that the manufacturing industry continues to grow and be a viable part of North Dakota’s economy.”

According to Gary Smith, “Dave is doing a fine job of representing our College and in getting manufacturers linked to resources here at North Dakota State University. We will be able to extend his efforts with those of the Dakota MEP in helping manufacturers with the strategic challenges they face and in developing new opportunities.”

According to Kambiz Farahmand, “There are a significant number of opportunities that NDSU and Dakota MEP can work together on including helping manufacturers with continuous improvement, innovation, technology and workforce development. This partnership will be a great step in that direction.”

Dave is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bachelors degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and of the University of North Dakota with a Masters degree in Business Administration. He has over ten years of experience working in the manufacturing field as engineer as well as manager. In addition, he serves on the IDEA Center Executive Board.

For more information, please contact Dave Lehman at 701-483-2348, ext. 119, dave.lehman@ndsu.edu, Dr. Kambiz Farahmand at 701-231-5694, kambiz.farahmand@ndsu.edu or Randy Schwartz at 701-328-5471, randys@dakotamep.com.