The OpExChange hosted a webinar on May 19, 2026, focused on strengthening manufacturing supply chains in South Carolina through collaboration, visibility, and strategic partnerships. The session brought together representatives from the SCMEP, the South Carolina APEX Accelerator, and OpExChange member companies to share practical tools and real-world experiences that manufacturers can leverage to strengthen their operations and business relationships.
The webinar reinforced a recurring theme heard throughout many OpExChange events: manufacturing success is rarely built in isolation. Whether companies are looking for suppliers, benchmarking operational practices, pursuing government contracts, or developing strategic partnerships, relationships continue to matter.
Mike Demos, OpExChange Coordinator for the SCMEP, opened the session by emphasizing that while supply chain challenges remain very real, manufacturers also have more resources available than many realize. He noted that the webinar would focus not only on tools and platforms, but also on how collaboration and trust between manufacturers naturally create opportunities for business growth and resilience.
CONNEX: Building Visibility Across South Carolina Manufacturing
Miranda Craig, Regional Vice President with the SCMEP, introduced attendees to the CONNEX platform – a statewide manufacturing supply chain and business-matching platform funded through the South Carolina Department of Commerce and available at no cost to South Carolina manufacturers.
Craig explained that the platform was originally developed during the COVID pandemic to rapidly identify manufacturers capable of producing PPE and critical medical supplies. Since then, it has evolved into a robust supply chain visibility and sourcing tool used across the manufacturing sector.
The webinar highlighted the growing reach of the CONNEX platform, which currently includes more than 3,900 South Carolina manufacturer profiles. As more companies build out their profiles and engage with the platform, manufacturers are gaining greater visibility into capabilities, certifications, and sourcing opportunities across the state.
Craig demonstrated how manufacturers can search for suppliers based on processes, certifications, materials, diversity classifications, and capabilities. Unlike some sourcing platforms that prioritize paid advertising or search optimization, CONNEX is driven entirely by the completeness and accuracy of the manufacturer’s profile.
The live demonstration showed how manufacturers could:
- Search for specialized processes such as nickel plating or custom crating
- Filter suppliers by certifications such as ISO or AS9100
- View uploaded certifications and capability statements
- Identify key contact personnel
- Explore supplier photos, equipment, and service offerings
- Respond to RFQs and sourcing requests through the Exchange Center
Craig also highlighted the platform’s supply chain visualization tools, which allow manufacturers to map supplier ecosystems, identify single-source risks, and locate alternate suppliers within specific geographic regions.
One particularly interesting discussion point emerged around competitive visibility. Rather than viewing transparency as a risk, participants discussed how understanding competitors’ capabilities, certifications, and processes can actually provide strategic insight and help manufacturers benchmark themselves more effectively.
SC APEX Accelerator: Opening Doors to Government Contracting
Cor’Deija Horne from the South Carolina APEX Accelerator discussed how manufacturers can leverage government contracting opportunities at the federal, state, and local levels. The SC APEX Accelerator provides no-cost assistance to businesses pursuing government contracts and helps companies navigate what is often perceived as a highly complex process.
Horne explained that the organization assists companies with:
- Government contracting readiness
- SAM.gov registration
- NAICS code alignment
- Bid matching
- Compliance requirements
- Proposal support
- Networking and relationship building
- Procurement training
One of the more compelling statistics shared was that SC APEX clients have secured approximately $726 million in contract awards from September 2021 through March 2026.
The presentation also highlighted the growing opportunities within Department of Defense manufacturing initiatives. Horne outlined six key technology areas currently receiving significant focus:
- Applied Artificial Intelligence
- Biomanufacturing
- Contested Logistics Technologies
- Quantum & Battlefield Information Dominance
- Scaled Directed Energy
- Scaled Hypersonics
These areas create opportunities for manufacturers involved in software, robotics, aerospace, advanced materials, cybersecurity, logistics, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Horne also demonstrated how manufacturers can utilize USAspending.gov to research government purchasing trends, identify awarded contracts, locate potential teaming partners, and analyze opportunities based on keywords or NAICS codes. The live demonstration showed attendees how cybersecurity-related contracts in South Carolina could be quickly identified and researched.
During the Q&A portion, Horne emphasized the growing importance of cybersecurity compliance, particularly CMMC certification, for companies seeking Department of Defense business opportunities. She noted that current federal priorities and global conditions are driving significant investment into domestic manufacturing and defense-related supply chains.
Real-World OpExChange Experiences
The webinar concluded with two OpExChange members sharing firsthand examples of how collaboration and networking within the group have strengthened their businesses.
Scott Greene – Southern Fabricators
Scott Greene, Chief Improvement Officer for Southern Fabricators and a long-time OpExChange member, spoke extensively about the value of peer-to-peer collaboration. Greene explained that the relationships developed through the OpExChange allowed Southern Fabricators to accelerate growth and build operational infrastructure far more quickly than they could have independently.
He shared several specific examples:
- Benchmarking attendance policies with other manufacturers
- Collaborating on sales compensation structures
- Learning organizational communication practices from Timken
- Receiving HR mentoring and guidance from peer companies
- Utilizing one-on-one benchmarking visits and informal peer discussions
Greene repeatedly emphasized that the greatest value often comes from the relationships themselves.
“I have a personal belief that all our success and failures are honestly about the relationships we build either personally or professionally,” Greene shared during the discussion.
He also highlighted the importance of the OpExChange’s “safe space” environment, where manufacturing leaders can openly discuss challenges, benchmark practices, and seek advice without fear of sales pressure or judgment.
Taylor Powell – Industrial Motor Service
Taylor Powell, Chief Operating Officer of Industrial Motor Service, offered the perspective of a newer and smaller company member within the OpExChange network. Although Industrial Motor Service is a remanufacturer rather than a traditional manufacturer, Powell explained that the group has become an invaluable learning and relationship-building resource.
One of the strongest themes from Powell’s presentation was intentional learning.
“What I did was put myself in rooms where I am most definitely not the smartest person,” Powell explained while discussing the value of exposing herself and her team to other manufacturers and operational leaders.
Powell shared a particularly powerful supply chain success story involving SEW Eurodrive. After more than 20 years of selling SEW products, participation in OpExChange and related manufacturing events helped strengthen the relationship to the point where Industrial Motor Service became one of SEW Eurodrive’s approximately 115 official partners nationwide.
She also discussed:
- Using plant visits as learning opportunities
- Bringing interns and younger employees into the network
- Benchmarking maintenance programs
- Building Power Apps solutions through shared ideas
- Gaining visibility with larger manufacturers
- Leveraging relationships to compete against much larger competitors
Powell emphasized that the OpExChange’s value comes from approaching the group with a learning and relationship-focused mindset rather than a sales mentality.
“If you go into it with a relationship-building attitude first, you have opportunities,” she shared.
Key Takeaways
Visibility Matters
Whether through CONNEX profiles, networking events, or plant visits, manufacturers that actively increase their visibility often create more opportunities for collaboration and business growth.
Relationships Drive Manufacturing
Throughout the webinar, every presenter returned to the importance of relationships — with suppliers, peer companies, customers, and strategic partners.
Government Contracting Opportunities Are Growing
The Department of Defense and other agencies continue investing heavily in advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, aerospace, logistics, and emerging technologies.
Collaboration Accelerates Learning
Both Scott Greene and Taylor Powell emphasized how much faster companies can grow and improve when they openly benchmark and collaborate with peers.
Small Companies Benefit Too
One of the strongest messages from the webinar was that even small manufacturers and remanufacturers can gain tremendous value from engaging with larger manufacturing networks and resources.
Interested in Getting Involved?
For manufacturers interested in learning more about the resources discussed during the webinar, all three organizations offer excellent opportunities to strengthen operations, expand networks, and explore new business opportunities.
CONNEX South Carolina
South Carolina manufacturers interested in joining the CONNEX platform can learn more and create a profile through the SCMEP website:
The platform is funded through the South Carolina Department of Commerce and is available at no cost for South Carolina manufacturers.
South Carolina APEX Accelerator
Companies interested in government contracting opportunities and procurement assistance can learn more about the South Carolina APEX Accelerator program here:
South Carolina APEX Accelerator
The program provides no-cost assistance related to government contracting readiness, registrations, proposal support, compliance, and opportunity identification.
OpExChange
Manufacturers interested in learning more about the OpExChange, including plant visits, workshops, benchmarking opportunities, and peer networking, can visit:
The OpExChange is a statewide peer-to-peer manufacturing network focused on operational excellence, leadership development, benchmarking, and collaboration among manufacturers.