IMEC is a unique organization driven by the mission of two U.S. Department of Commerce NIST programs founded to support U.S. businesses: the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Illinois Performance Excellence (ILPEx) was founded in 1994 as the state’s affiliate to the Baldrige Program. Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) was established in 1996 to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. Together, we leverage the Baldrige Excellence Framework as a foundation for driving organizational improvement and then prioritizes those improvements through a range of hands-on, goal-oriented solutions in continuous improvement, strategy, workforce, and more. The 2015 merger of IMEC and ILPEx allows the organization to positively impact business change for Illinois companies and recognize those companies who achieve elements of business excellence.
