FIND AND BE FOUND

It started with the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to support manufacturers who were manufacturing or could retool to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

There was no centralized database of manufacturers who had the capability to manufacture PPE. There was a limited ability to locate producers of source materials for the production of PPE.

As the pandemic continued, supply chains started to break, especially with our dependence on international products and materials.

KMS had also heard stories of Kansas manufacturers selling parts overseas that are being bought by other manufacturers who reside in the same town.

It is with these challenges in mind that KMS decided to partner with a manufacturing supply chain database developer named i5, who developed the CONNEX Marketplace platform.

CONNEX Marketplace is the national solution for connecting the U.S. manufacturing supply chain, bringing every manufacturing sector together under one platform. It quickly gives access to hundreds of thousands of buyers and suppliers into the hands of manufacturers. It has been in the works for close to 10 years and was built for only US manufacturers.

Using search and filter functionality such as equipment, capabilities, services, certifications, SBA distinctions, location, and so much more, manufacturers are able to locate necessary materials and supplies, while buyers find qualified manufacturers.

CONNEX is tightly integrated with local and regional partner networks that support manufacturing. These include: NAM, NIST MEP, State Manufacturing Associations, State MEPs, 100+ state and regional associations, and many others such as Economic Development Offices, Chambers of Commerce and more!

The combination of an extensive partner network and robust search functionality makes CONNEX the deepest database search platform available.

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions is proud to partner with i5 and bring this robust resource to Kansas manufacturers.