CONNSTEP Newsletter | January 2025

Recent Blogs

Advantages of Hiring a Manufacturing Consulting Company

Hiring a manufacturing consulting company provides numerous advantages that can significantly impact the success and growth of small and medium-sized manufacturers. In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, manufacturers face a variety of challenges, from operational inefficiencies to cybersecurity initiatives, to the integration of new technology and processes. A manufacturing consulting firm offers the expertise and solutions needed to overcome these hurdles, enabling companies to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

Read more: https://www.connstep.org/news-media/advantages-of-hiring-a-manufacturing-consulting-company/

Fall 2024 CICC Participants Showcase Real-World Projects in Final Presentation

Final project presentations were delivered by the Fall 2024 participants of CONNSTEP’s Continuous Improvement Champion Certification (CICC) training program. The attendees included employees from Connecticut manufacturers serving a diverse range of industries, including architectural lighting, aerospace, medical devices, automotive, energy, defense, sports, and recreation.

Read this blog: https://www.connstep.org/news-media/manufacturing-gov-manufacturing-opportunities/

Announcements

It’s the end of an era at CONNSTEP. Expert Senior Copywriter/Content Strategist, Dean Simmons, is officially unplugging the laptop and retiring.

Dean has been an invaluable member of the CONNSTEP team for nearly a decade, sharing his expertise, industry knowledge, and words of wisdom with everyone around him. 

Congratulations Dean, and best of luck in retirement!

Upcoming Training & Events

Networking 
Manufacturing Meetup: Innovation & Industry
Date: January 9, 2025
Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
Location: Connecticut Science Center

Training | Workshops
Supervisor Bootcamp – Spring 2025 
Date: Fridays, March 7-April 18
Time: 8 am-12 pm
Location: Milford

Training | Workshops
Continuous Improvement Champion Certification (CICC)-Spring 2025
Date: Tuesdays, March 11-May 20
Time: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Location: Cromwell

Training | Workshops
Quality Essentials Program – Spring 2025
Date: Tuesdays, April 3-May 8
Time: 9 am-3 pm
Location: Cromwell

More Upcoming Events

• Policy Breakfast – Wallingford | Fri, Jan 10, 2025 | 8:00 am-10:00 am
• Economic Summit + Outlook 2025 | Wed, Jan 15, 2025 | 8:30 am-11:45 am
• Policy Breakfast – Farmington | Wed, Jan 22, 2025 | 8:00 am-10:00 am

Manufacturing News

• The MEP Program in 2024: Putting the Pieces Together
• Back to Basics: Simple Questions for Assessing Industrial Artificial Intelligence Applications
• CT Launches Small Manufacturers’ Green Energy Program
• Biggest Manufacturing Technology Wins of 2024
• NIST | Funding Opportunity: DOE Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction Assessment Grants
• NIST | Manufacturing Skills Survey
• NIST Awards $15 Million to ASTM International to Establish Standardization Center of Excellence
• Required Historical PFAS Reporting Poses Risks Going Forward
  
• Understanding Federal and State Child Labor Laws
• Mastering Inventory Management: Techniques and Strategies for Manufacturers
• Research Opportunities for Advancing Measurement Science for Manufacturing Robotics

Manufacturing Resources

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

• Career ConneCT
• CBIA
• CCAT
• Connecticut Manufacturing Ambassadors
• CONNEX Connecticut
• Connecticut Office of Manufacturing
• FORGE Connecticut
• Manufacturing Skills for Connecticut
  

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