UTAP
Since September 1986 hundreds of Montana manufacturers have benefited from assistance by engineers employed by the University Technical Assistance Program (UTAP) at Montana State University while they worked on advanced degrees in Industrial and Management Engineering from Montana State University. UTAP engineers lend their knowledge and research skills to economic development in the state while gaining real-world experience in manufacturing and business management issues.

Projects include transfer of technology to small companies, plant layout, marketing, plus technical information and database searches for answers to questions about materials, automation, equipment and containers, marketing research, feasibility studies, and much more. Since 1996, UTAP services, in collaboration with MMEC, have expanded to more integrated projects like Lean Manufacturing implementation, value-stream mapping, customized costing and shop rate models, quality systems, business development, etc.

The UTAP mission blends well with that of MMEC, particularly for those companies in Montana that cannot afford other consulting services. UTAP engineers work under the direction of a senior MMEC field engineer. In 2004, MMEC partnered with the Montana World Trade Center and University of Montana to add marketing systems assistance through the marketing graduate program at the UM School of Business Administration.

UTAP is supported by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Interested in an Internship or GRA position in Bozeman? If you are a currently enrolled in MSU's IE or ME program, have excellent communcation skills (oral and written in English), ability to work independently and in a team environment, and have strong computer skills, contact Mark Shyne, UTAP Supervisor.