The University of Mississippi has created the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) with the support of the State of Mississippi in association with the building of a new Toyota manufacturing plant near Blue Springs MS.

The CME is a center unique in its educational focus on undergraduate interdisciplinary manufacturing education. The CME brings together the Schools of Accountancy, Business Administration, and Engineering to provide students the professional skills involved in successful manufacturing along with an understanding of accounting, communication, human resources, leadership, management, and marketing. The CME Advisory Board includes executives from Toyota's nearby plant and other manufacturing companies and industry experts to ensure a close tie to industry.

The CME serves as an innovative resource for

• undergraduate education in manufacturing for accounting, business,and engineering students,
• research support and cooperation,
• extension services working with the manufacturing community, and
• P-20 collaboration with K-12 schools and community colleges.