InfraGard Manufacturing Industry Association 
Implementation Protocol

Back to About IMIA page

Reference: Charter of the InfraGard Manufacturing Industry Association, InfraGard Executive Board, December 20, 2001

Introduction

As an initiative of the National Infrastructure Protection Center’s (NIPC) InfraGard program, the InfraGard Executive Board has authorized and chartered NCMS to establish an InfraGard Manufacturing Industry Association (IMIA) aimed at enhancing the security of the manufacturing community’s critical infrastructures and equipping manufacturers with world class information assurance knowledge, services and products.

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  NCMS operates to carry on scientific research in the public interest within the meaning of such regulations. In furtherance of its mission, the NCMS:

1. Conducts, sponsors, funds, directs and otherwise promotes scientific research, development and demonstration of technologies and scientific methods that will improve manufacturing processes and materials in the United States, Canada and Mexico in furtherance of the objectives underlying the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement for the benefit of the United States, Canadian and Mexican manufacturers, consumers, and the public at large and to further enhance the national security of the United States;
2. Assists in the implementation of such technologies and methods;
3. Provides a forum for the examination and discussion of technical and scientific issues having a significant impact on manufacturing and United States, Canadian and Mexican manufacturers;
4. Enhances the image of manufacturing and related technologies and sciences in order to attract high-quality faculty and students to teach, study and work in the field;
5. Serves as a national clearinghouse, library and data source for manufacturing research information; and
6. Publishes or sponsors articles, press releases, newsletters and other publications related to manufacturing sciences.

The IMIA and NCMS missions are mutually supportive and consistent with each other.

Article I: Objectives of the Protocol

This protocol defines the NCMS organizational and support structure required to implement the IMIA in accordance with the IMIA Charter, referenced above.

Article II: Precedence

The IMIA shall operate in compliance with the IMIA Charter, InfraGard Bylaws and Regulations, and the NCMS Bylaws. Any conflicts between this Protocol and the InfraGard Bylaws, IMIA Charter, or NCMS Bylaws, shall be construed in favor of the various Bylaws and IMIA Charter.

Article III: IMIA Program Structure

The IMIA program serves as a proactive alliance, a resource and a community for manufacturing industry members who share a common interest in improving their ability to defend the integrity of their critical infrastructure systems and trusted collaboration environments. The program will communicate and provide access to advancements and best practices that address critical infrastructure risks, threats, and opportunities for the manufacturing industry sector. The program seeks to build trust among participants, enabling manufacturers to leverage the expertise of partners. Thus, the IMIA and NCMS missions are complementary.

Within NCMS, these awareness, communication, education, community building, and trust building roles are realized through NCMS Community Member Services. NCMS Community Membership is the baseline membership program that reaches the broadest possible manufacturing audience through interaction with all NCMS programs. Every member of NCMS has access to NCMS Community Member Services. Thus, this membership class offers a broad array of services to a substantial existing customer base. NCMS Community also serves as a gateway to the strategic collaborative project levels of membership that require additional member commitment.

Much of what is intended as IMIA benefits to a manufacturing community are already provided through NMCS Community Member Services. To speed the deployment of additional InfraGard benefits to the manufacturing community, and to enhance efficiency, NCMS will combine NCMS Community Member Services resources with other resources to accomplish the purposes of the IMIA. NCMS will operate and deploy IMIA as a program within NCMS Community Member Services. IMIA will not be a separately incorporated entity.

Article IV: IMIA Membership and Voting

InfraGard members are individuals representing organizations. NCMS members are organizations. IMIA members will be required to be registered members of InfraGard who represent organizations that are NCMS Community Members.

IMIA members in good standing shall be eligible to vote to select IMIA Board of Advisors as specified in the IMIA Charter.

NCMS shall conduct a proactive program to encourage IMIA membership. For marketing purposes, NCMS may extend limited benefits to prospective members, while remaining in compliance with IMIA and InfraGard requirements.

Any IMIA member’s failure to comply with this IMIA protocol, the InfraGard Bylaws, IMIA Charter, or the NCMS Bylaws or refusing to certify in writing to compliance with these guidelines will be reported to the IMIA Advisory Board and the President of NCMS and may subject such member to termination of membership.

Article V: Assigned Staff 

The NCMS President shall assign an Executive Director of the InfraGard Manufacturing Industry Association, and other supporting staff as required, for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the IMIA Charter in accordance with this protocol. Until such time as the IMIA Board of Advisors is fully established, the President of NCMS shall nominate a representative for the InfraGard Advisory Board. Figure 1 illustrates these protocol relationships.

Article VI: Amendments 

This protocol may be amended, altered, supplemented or repealed by the NCMS, consistent with the IMIA Charter. Any InfraGard Executive Board Member, NCMS Member or NCMS employee may forward suggestions for amendments in writing to the President of NCMS at any time.  Members and the InfraGard Executive Board will be promptly advised of any changes.

THIS PROTOCOL IS AUTHORIZED AND EFFECTIVE JANUARY 25, 2002

John A. Decaire
President
National Center for Manufacturing Sciences