The first-year event reached its general registration capacity, drawing attendees from across New England for a day focused on the issues affecting manufacturers today, from workforce challenges and safety to supply chains, quality and operational improvement.

The summit was co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Rhode Island Manufacturers Association (RIMA), Polaris MEP, and the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC).

Polaris MEP was involved throughout the day, with team members connecting with attendees at the Polaris booth and talking with manufacturers about workforce and education, workplace safety, ISO, operational improvement and third-party partnerships.

Three Polaris experts also took the stage to share their experience and offer practical insight into some of the challenges manufacturers are facing.

Ken Hayes, Polaris Safety Expert, addressed the financial consequences of failing to meet workplace safety requirements, with a focus on areas such as machine guarding and lockout/tagout.

A serious workplace incident can affect far more than the employees directly involved. It can disrupt operations, create significant costs and expose a manufacturer to additional consequences. Ken emphasized the importance of understanding safety requirements and having the right processes in place before something goes wrong.

He also participated in the panel “Resilient Growth for Manufacturers: Strategies for Sudden Market Shocks,” moderated by Rick Mullins of CONNSTEP. Ken was joined by Joe Burnham of Howden, Patrick Hayward of Navigant Credit Union and Tony Fernandez of NH MEP.

The panel looked at tariffs and the ways unexpected costs can move through a manufacturer’s supply chain. Ken spoke about the importance of understanding those variables, accounting for uncertainty when evaluating costs, and keeping the documentation and processes needed to respond when conditions change.

Chris Cinieri, Polaris ISO Expert, joined Jim Saropoulos, Principal of ExoLytic, Inc., for “A Manufacturer’s Guide to ISO 9001 Updates: Staying Compliant and Competitive.”

Their discussion focused on the upcoming ISO 9001 changes and what manufacturers should be considering as they prepare. That includes looking at existing Quality Management Systems (QMS), identifying potential gaps and understanding where updates may affect day-to-day operations.

The conversation also touched on the broader role of ISO in strengthening quality culture, risk management, supply-chain oversight, digitalization and operational resilience.

For Nathan Bonds, Polaris Lean Expert, the conversation centered on something many manufacturers encounter as they grow: roles that change over time without the organization necessarily changing with them.

In smaller businesses especially, employees often take on additional responsibilities because there is simply a need to get the work done. Eventually, those responsibilities can pull people away from their primary roles and create inefficiencies that are difficult to see from inside the organization.

Nathan encouraged manufacturers to take a closer look at what each role is actually intended to accomplish, rather than focusing only on what the role has become. That distinction can help identify where time and resources are being pulled in too many directions and where changes could make the organization run more effectively.

The value of an event like NE Made goes beyond the presentations. It gives manufacturers a chance to compare experiences, talk through challenges and make connections with people working through many of the same issues.

For Polaris MEP, the summit was also a chance to hear directly from manufacturers about what they are dealing with right now and to share the expertise and resources available through our team and the broader manufacturing support network.

The first NE Made Summit brought together a broad cross-section of the region’s manufacturing community. It was a good starting point for the conversations, connections and collaboration that will continue well beyond the event.