Purdue University
Technical Assistance Program

The mission of the Purdue Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is to strengthen the Indiana economy and improve the quality of life for Indiana citizens. TAP supports performance improvement in Indiana companies and organizations through various programs and services that utilize faculty, students, and staff in nine statewide offices. 
Employers served include companies, hospitals, health departments, and governmental units throughout the state. Impacts are considerable, and since 1986 TAP programs and services have assisted over 4,700 organizations, trained over 4,600 employees, boosted sales by $339 million, increased capital investments by $69 million, contributed cost savings of $34 million, and saved or added over 4,700 jobs in the state, according to the organizations that were assisted.

Programs and services include:

• Faculty Assistance Projects -- Faculty and graduate student short-term assistance projects on a broad range of business and technical issues. Up to five days of no-cost assistance available.
  
  
• Advanced Manufacturing Training -- Manufacturing training and implementation via our Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center in areas of continuous improvement, quality, leadership, and others
  
  
• Energy Efficiency Services -- Assessments and training for companies with high energy costs
  
  
• Healthcare Technical Assistance -- Short term performance improvement and lean and six sigma healthcare training for Indiana hospitals, the public health system, and other healthcare providers. Healthcare TAP is a partner with the Indiana Hospital&Health Association and the Purdue Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering
  
  
• Business Innovation -- Business innovation support funded by the US Dept. of Labor’s Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative. Project work is targeted to manufacturers in a fourteen county north central Indiana region. Projects include a healthy workforce imitative, adoption of nano-coated cutting tools, agribusiness supply chain improvements, and energy efficiency training.
  
  
• Pharma Technical Assistance -- Performance improvement projects and lean and six sigma training for hospital and community pharmacies and others in the drug supply chain. Pharma TAP start-up funding is from the Lilly Endowment.
  
  
• Other -- Services for both students and companies including our:
• Summer Intern Program – this program helps Indiana employers connect with Purdue students for summer internships
• High Tech Job Fair – this job fair allows Indiana companies to connect with talented Purdue students in technical fields