The University of Mississippi and the State of Mississippi, with the collaboration of Toyota Motor Corp., have created the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME), a center unique in its educational focus on undergraduate manufacturing education. The CME brings together the Schools of Engineering, Business Administration, and Accountancy, and the College of Liberal Arts to provide students the technical 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 and graduate education in manufacturing for engineering, business, and accountancy students,
• research support and cooperation,
• extension services working with the manufacturing community, and
• P-20 collaboration with K-12 schools and community colleges.