The Corridor Journal of Strategic Alliances Long Island - Global | Page 8

MANUFACTURING
& TECHNOLOGY

Lift Hosts ExporTech Program
LIFT Hosts a 10-Week ExporTech Program,
Developed by the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership to Help Companies Go International
Contributed by: Bob Curtis, Senior Sales Manager and Diane Muscarella,
Director of Programs, Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT)
During the months of February, March and April 2015,
four Long Island companies participated in ExporTech a
national export assistance program that helps companies
enter or expand in global markets. Jointly offered by
the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
and the U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEAC) of
the U.S. Department of Commerce, ExporTech applies
a structured export strategy development process
that assists 4-8 companies to accelerate growth. LIFT
(The Long Island Forum for Technology) recruited the
participants and facilitated the series.
It is the only national program where each company
develops a written export plan that is vetted by a panel
of experts upon completion.  ExporTech efficiently
connects companies with a wide range of world-class
experts that help navigate the export sales process. The
result is that companies rapidly expand global sales
and save countless hours of effort.  
So far, this nationwide program has resulted in 682
participating companies, 127 completed programs,
$770,000 increase in average sales, $50,000 average
investment saving and $400 Million in total program
sales.
The companies that participated in LIFT’s initial multiday ExporTech program had to take a good hard look
at the inner workings of their company from start to
finish. The program basically forced them to delve
into process and financials as well as their reasons for
wanting to export. For example:
• One company realized they were not ready to
export as their domestic opportunity was greater
and needed to be exploited and developed further
before they exported. This turned out to be a
winning decision as numerous positive events
have followed for them!
8

• Another company recognized their physical
capacity may not have been ready for a large
export order. Steps are being taken to mitigate
this risk as the export program continues.
• One company, which was already exporting,
broadened their education and learned about
significant gaps in their supply chain process
including forecasting, production planning and
inventory control. They are now managing their
issues better and using their capital investments in
materials and resources in an improved manner.
While some of these companies are not ready at this
time to enter into the export marketplace, the steps they
are taking now can surely set them up for success in
the future.
More About the Program
The Exportech program was developed because MEP
recognized that manufacturers cannot rely only on the
domestic market for growth. 80% of the world market
is outside of the U.S., and the purchasing power of
billions of new consumers is rapidly increasing in
emerging economies. At the same time, competition
in domestic markets is fiercer than ever, and more and
more companies are turning to international markets to

offset declines in domestic sales. In addition, of those
manufacturers that do export, over 40% sell to on HۙB