About

Technology for Energy Corporation (TEC) is a manufacturer of diagnostic instruments for multiple industries including the aviation, electric power, nuclear, and materials testing industries and is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company has approximately 50 employees and most are located in the Knoxville office, with a handful in a Huntsville, Alabama, location. TEC’s entire staff is involved in customer communication from product development to delivery and beyond. All TEC instruments are designed and built by the employee-owners of the company.

The Challenge

To remain competitive in the aerospace and defense sectors, TEC needed to achieve compliance with both the AS9100D quality management standard and the Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity requirements. These certifications were not just checkboxes—they were critical for maintaining existing defense contracts and unlocking access to new markets. TEC turned to the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP), part of the MEP National Network™, for expert assistance.

MEP's Role and Two-Phase Engagement. TMEP worked with TEC on two strategic projects, each vital to the company’s growth and long-term success:

Phase 1: AS9100D Gap Assessment and Certification Readiness

Led by TEC’s Project Engineering Manager, Tim Smith, the AS9100D initiative focused on aligning TEC’s quality management system with aerospace and defense industry standards. TMEP conducted a thorough gap assessment and mapped out the essential steps toward certification readiness. The assessment provided a clear roadmap for achieving AS9100D compliance, positioning TEC to maintain its current contracts and pursue additional aerospace opportunities.

“We anticipate the benefits will continue to happen for the next few years. These services will help us maintain DOD contracts and help us in new markets and ultimately an increase of $10M/year for us is possible.” — Tim Smith, Project Engineering Manager

Phase 2: Cybersecurity Compliance for DoD Contracts

In parallel, TMEP also supported TEC through a NIST Cybersecurity Framework for Manufacturers Gap Assessment. This engagement included a project plan, milestone tracking, and the use of the NIST 800-171 Interim Rule Gap Assessment. TMEP’s cybersecurity experts helped configure TEC’s compliance portal, assign internal roles, deploy network scanning tools, and collect evidence for DFARS 252.204-7012 compliance. Deliverables included a NIST auditor checklist, risk analysis and treatment plan, evidence documentation, policies and procedures templates, an application and asset inventory, and an external vulnerability scan report.

The Impact

These two coordinated efforts allowed TEC to meet both quality and cybersecurity requirements critical to the defense supply chain. With improved operational readiness, stronger compliance posture, and clear certification pathways, TEC is now well-positioned to maintain and grow its defense and aerospace business.

Results

• $2,000,000 in new or retained sales
• $99,000 in new investment
• $1,000 in training