The Consortium is made up of more than 60 companies throughout the state. As a group, they represent more than $3.6 billion in sales and about 20,000 employees.

The Maryland World Class Manufacturing Consortium is a group of Maryland manufacturers that have organized into a not-for-profit organization with the support of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). Its purpose is to identify and make available to members world class practitioner resources while developing the criteria, measurements, training and implementation assistance by which companies can become "World Class Manufacturers". Members use this information to implement the pursuit of customer and production excellence leading to a World Class designation. Through dedication to continuous improvement, members supply innovative, high-value solutions that meet customers' needs by providing products and services better, faster, and cheaper than competitors.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Honda, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Lucent Technologies, are increasingly moving beyond recognized standards such as ISO and are implementing world-class practices. They are requiring the same performance improvements from their suppliers. In order to qualify as OEM suppliers, Maryland manufacturers must demonstrate that they can attain excellence not only in the consistency and quality of their products, but also that the skills of their workforce can meet world class standards of productivity. At the same time, reducing costs and facing pricing constraints.