CONNSTEP Newsletter | April 2025

April 27, 2025
Group of people in office, titled

Commitment to World-Class Service Leads to Successful Recertification for Medical Products Manufacturer

“As a medical device manufacturer, it is imperative that we have qualified professionals conducting our internal audits to this stringent ISO 13485 standard, as this audit has a direct impact on the success of our recertification. Our consultant is very knowledgeable with a wealth of experience who we see as an important partner in our success. CONNSTEP has been a valuable resource to Beekley over the years and has provided great service and support to ensure we continue to achieve our goals.”

– Kate Chase, Director of Quality and Regulatory, Beekley Corporation

 

Read more: https://www.connstep.org/case-study/commitment-to-world-class-service-leads-to-successful-recertification-for-medical-products-manufacturer/

Lean Thinking: CONNSTEP Webinar Series


On April 17, CONNSTEP’s Continuous Improvement Consultant, Matin Karbassioon, presented on Lean Thinking, and what it means for your business. Discover the five Lean principles and how to properly implement them. An educational (and unexpectedly fun) webinar you don’t want to miss!

Watch the webinar recording on YouTube: https://connstep.info/LeanThinkingWebinar

Recent Blogs


Connecticut Manufacturers Connect with NASA and Aerospace Prime Contractors at University of Hartford Event

On Thursday, April 3, over 100 Connecticut manufacturers and processors had the unique opportunity at the University of Hartford to engage directly with NASA and its prime contractors about propelling their pathway into the aerospace supply chain. “We are thrilled to welcome NASA back to Connecticut,” said Melissa Grosso, Director of U.S. Commercial Service, Connecticut Office. 

Read more: https://www.connstep.org/news-media/media/connecticut-manufacturers-connect-with-nasa-and-aerospace-prime-contractors-at-university-of-hartford-event/

CONNSTEP Joins Connecticut in Honoring UConn Women’s 2025 NCAA Basketball Title

It’s a sight University of Connecticut basketball fans have come to expect: an April championship parade and rally in downtown Hartford. For the third straight year, fans of all ages cheered on another Husky national title, further cementing UConn’s nickname: The Basketball Capital of the World. 

Read more: https://www.connstep.org/news-media/media/connstep-joins-connecticut-in-honoring-uconn-womens-2025-ncaa-basketball-title/

Upcoming Training & Events


Educational Seminar
Tariffs & Trade Seminar
Date: Thursday, May 1
Time: 3-5 pm
Location: Hartford

impaCT Workshop
CMMC Informational Breakfast with Anna Mumford
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 8 am-10:30 am
Location: Farmington or Online – Hybrid

Webinar Series
CMMC Compliance: What You Need to Know
Date: Thursday, May 8
Time: 11 am-12 noon
Location: Online

Training | Workshops
Supervisor Bootcamp – Late Spring
Date: Fridays, May 9-June 27
Time: 8 am-12 noon
Location: New London

Training | Workshops
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Bootcamp
Date: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, May 13-May 27
Time: 8:30 am-12:00 pm
Location: Virtual

Manufacturing Meetup | Networking
Manufacturing Meetup: Blooms & Brews
Date: Tuesday, May 13
Time: 4:30-6:30 pm
Location: Danbury

impaCT Workshop
The Lean Progression presented by Bill Greider
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 8 am-12 noon
Location: Waterbury

Webinar Series
CT SMARTE
Date: Thursday, June 12
Time: 11 am-12 noon
Location: Online

impaCT Workshop
The Lean Turnaround presented by Art Byrne
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Time: 8 am-11:30 am
Location: Glastonbury

Manufacturing News



ManufactureCT Scholarship Program 2025:

Deadline for application is April 30, 2025. ManufactureCT believes in the power of manufacturing to transform lives and pave the way towards a brighter future in manufacturing. Get in touch with them and apply for one of their scholarship opportunities.

If you know a graduating high school senior who’s passionate about manufacturing – whether they’re planning to continue their education or enter the workforce – this is a fantastic opportunity.

Learn more:  https://manufacturect.org/scholarships/

Manufacturing Resources


CT SMARTE

Connecticut Smart Manufacturing Assessment & Access to Reduce Technology Emissions (CT SMARTE) is a free pilot program designed to accelerate the adoption of Smart Manufacturing and High-Performance Computing technologies for CT small and mid-sized manufacturers to reduce their energy consumption and advance manufacturing. 

The application is quick and free to complete. Key benefits: energy savings, smart manufacturing access support, HPC-based modeling, workforce training, and access to customized tools.

Capstone Projects

Each year, dozens of manufacturing companies present engineering schools in Connecticut universities with design challenges they encounter in their business. Students research and analyze the problem, and typically end up with a solution—a design, a model, a working prototype.

Ideally, it’s a win-win for the company and the students: the company has their problem solved and students get hands-on experience problem solving.

CONNSTEP will coordinate the connection between the manufacturer and the university, and assist the process as needed.

Master Digital Thread Manufacturing
Unlock your potential at the cutting-edge Digital Thread Manufacturing Lab.

Grants for Manufacturers 
Grant programs designed to help Connecticut manufacturers acquire the skills, tools, and resources needed to keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing ecosystem.

CONNSTEP’s Downloads & Materials
Discover key resources and information to help your organization overcome challenges and meet its goals to advance your business growth, enhance your manufacturing capabilities, and sustain your competitiveness in the industry.


Additional Resources

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Recent Posts

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Phoenix Manufacturing, Inc., founded in 1989, is a privately held family-operated small business in Enfield, Connecticut, specializing in precision machining for the aerospace industry. What began as a two-person operation in a 2,000-square-foot building has grown into a company with over 100 employees operating out of a 114,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. As a contract manufacturer, Phoenix specializes in complex, tight-tolerance components, supported by more than 40 CNC machines and a multi-axis mill/turn line. The company provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions—from engineering consultation through full-scale production—serving commercial aviation, spaceflight, and defense markets for both domestic and global customers, including leading aerospace and defense OEMs. A defining element of Phoenix’s growth has been its strategic investment in advanced manufacturing technology, particularly palletized machining centers. Since 2017, the company has added 11 machining centers integrated with palletized systems, enabling unattended, automated production and significantly expanding machining capacity. This automation journey has positioned Phoenix to better meet increasing customer demand while maximizing machine utilization. Phoenix’s commitment to quality is central to its operations and customer relationships. Managing more than 600 active part numbers, the company strives for 0 parts per million (PPM) defects and 99% on-time delivery (OTD) for major OEM customers. Its quality management system is certified to ISO 9001 and AS9100 Rev D standards, and Phoenix also holds NADCAP certifications in Nonconventional Machining and Nondestructive Testing, reflecting a rigorous, inspection-driven approach to delivering consistent, high-quality results.  Guided by a mission to deliver high-quality, cost-effective products through advanced technology and an uncompromising commitment to quality, Phoenix continues to invest in innovation, automation, and the next generation of manufacturing leadership.
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