CONNSTEP, Inc.

10/20/2026

“You cannot really speed-run creating policies and procedures and implementations,” said CONNSTEP Cybersecurity Consultant Anna Mumford in a new Hartford Business Journal article on the costs and complexities of meeting Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements.

For Connecticut manufacturers looking to maintain their defense contracts, preparing for these rigorous cybersecurity requirements takes time, planning and investment.

Read more:

Connecticut defense suppliers like Windsor’s NE-XT Technologies are still investing in cybersecurity despite the Pentagon’s pause on CMMC audits.

10/19/2026

Build a stronger foundation for quality.

CONNSTEP's Quality Essentials Program (QEP) provides a practical introduction to the principles and practices of quality management, giving participants the knowledge and tools to understand quality, identify improvement opportunities, and contribute to better outcomes.

Over four full-day sessions, participants will explore:
✔ Quality fundamentals and process thinking
✔ Problem-solving and continuous improvement
✔ Performance measurement
✔ Quality Management Systems (QMS)
✔ How quality is built into everyday work
✔ The connection between quality and customer satisfaction

QEP is ideal for new employees, production operators, technicians, quality inspectors, supervisors, administrative staff, and anyone looking to build a stronger foundation in quality. It also helps organizations create a shared understanding of quality across departments.

Be better prepared to support consistent quality, stronger processes, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Register today: https://connstep.info/4q4j2Ww

10/16/2026

The final day of the CBIA 2026 Manufacturing Tour is in the books. Friday brought us to four stops that showcased the connection between workforce development, local manufacturing partnerships and innovation across Connecticut.

Chapco, Inc, a family-owned contract manufacturer founded in 1964, produces mission-critical sheet metal components and assemblies for industries ranging from defense and robotics to data center infrastructure and autonomous vehicles in its 151,000-square-foot location in Deep River.

At Westbrook High School, we saw how career pathways are connecting classroom learning with real-world opportunities. Through partnerships with local employers, hands-on programs in robotics and welding, and workplace learning experiences, the district is helping students prepare for high-demand careers. Since introducing its pathways program, Westbrook has seen its on-track graduation rate rise dramatically, and its new Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Academy will build on that momentum starting next school year.

At Birk Manufacturing, Inc. in East Lyme, we explored how flexible heaters and engineered thermal solutions serve demanding applications in medical, aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries. With products used in applications where failure is not an option, the company’s work with SpaceX and investment in an advanced testing lab demonstrate the precision and innovation required to meet increasingly complex challenges.

Our 20th and final stop, Sound Manufacturing in Old Saybrook showed us how a third-generation manufacturer that started in a garage in the 80’s has grown into a thriving sheet metal fabrication business. A contract manufacturer makes everything from the tiniest components to the familiar blue boxes used at Walmart checkout lanes. Sound combines quality, on-time delivery and continuous improvement with a strong commitment to employee development and partnerships with other local manufacturers.

The 2026 Manufacturing Tour reinforced that Connecticut manufacturing is powered by skilled people, innovative companies and strong connections between education and industry.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed us, shared their stories and gave us a closer look at the people and ideas shaping the future of manufacturing in Connecticut!

10/16/2026

Day four of the 2026 Manufacturing Tour highlighted the ingenuity, technical expertise and workforce development moving Connecticut manufacturing forward.

Click Bond Inc. in Watertown makes specialized fastening solutions used across aerospace and other industries, with applications ranging from aircraft to NASA missions. Precision is essential, with some components requiring as many as 12 manufacturing steps. The company is also investing in the next generation through four apprenticeship programs, including a four-year pathway that has graduated 17 apprentices.

In Torrington, Outer Armor by Commercial Sewing demonstrated how engineering, automation and Lean principles help a third-generation family business remain competitive in U.S. manufacturing. From boat covers and marine accessories to custom products for powersports vehicles, the company combines customer collaboration with technologies such as CNC cutting and 3D printing. Commercial Sewing also credits CONNSTEP with supporting its Lean journey.

Workforce development took center stage at Oliver Wolcott Technical High School, where students build practical skills through the Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, including precision machining, mechanical design, mechatronics and robotics. With work-based learning opportunities beginning at age 16, the school is helping prepare students for careers in manufacturing and further technical education.

Wittmann USA rounded out the day with a look at the robotics, automation systems and injection-molding technology that help plastics manufacturers produce their products. The family-owned company, founded in Austria 50 years ago, now operates across six countries and brings advanced manufacturing technology to customers in the United States.
From precision components and custom sewn products to technical education and factory automation, today’s visits reinforced that Connecticut manufacturing depends on continuous innovation, strong workforce pathways and the ability to adapt.

And we were honored to be joined by Nagesh Rao, acting director and deputy director of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership for today's tour!

One more day on the road tomorrow and we're headed to Westbrook, Deep River, Old Saybrook, and East Lyme!

CBIA

10/15/2026

Today marked the halfway point of the 2026 Connecticut Manufacturing Tour, with Wednesday’s visits exemplifying how Connecticut manufacturing combines technical expertise, precision and meaningful opportunities.

We started at MATCH (Manufacturing Technical and Community Hub) in New Haven, where paid, hands-on training is opening doors to manufacturing careers for people facing barriers to employment. Since launching in 2023, MATCH has graduated 230 trainees, equipping them with foundational manufacturing skills while building confidence and pathways to employment.

At Medtronic in North Haven, we explored the technology and attention to detail behind surgical stapling and suturing products used in life-saving procedures. Even in a highly automated manufacturing environment, skilled employees play a critical role in checking work and ensuring quality.

Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc. showcased its incredible process of re-rolling thousands of pounds of specialty metals and alloys into strip metal with thicknesses as precise as 0.001 inches used in countless manufacturing applications.

At B*K Additives in Wallingford, we discovered how specialty chemical additives help products ranging from paints and plastics to adhesives and sealants perform better, last longer and become safer to use. The company’s focus on sustainable solutions, including its move to PFAS-free additives as of January 2025, underscored the role innovation plays in advancing manufacturing.

Today’s visits reinforced that manufacturing excellence depends on both skilled people and specialized expertise. Whether creating pathways into the workforce or developing highly engineered products and materials, Connecticut manufacturers are solving complex challenges every day.

Two more days to go and it’s off to Watertown and Torrington tomorrow for Day 4.

See you on the road!



CBIA Foundation

10/14/2026

Connect, collaborate, and build valuable Connecticut manufacturing relationships!

Join AMEP CT for its Biannual Meeting on November 5 at CT State Manchester.

This cost-free event is an opportunity for manufacturers to learn about current workforce solutions, explore funding options, and engage with others across Connecticut’s manufacturing ecosystem.

Whether you’re looking for ways to strengthen your workforce or build new industry connections, this is a great opportunity to discover resources that can support your business.

📅 November 5 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 CT State Manchester

Learn more and register: https://connstep.info/4jTANGW

10/13/2026

Day two of the Connecticut Manufacturing Tour took the bus from the classroom to the production floor, highlighting workforce development and even more of the specialized products made by our Connecticut manufacturers.

At Derby High School, an innovative partnership with CT State Housatonic is introducing students to blueprint reading, CNC machining, CAD and inspection skills, helping prepare them for further education and careers in manufacturing.

In Shelton, the team at Lex Products showed us the critical power distribution systems working behind the scenes in industries ranging from live entertainment and sporting events to defense and disaster recovery.

Just a short drive away at Modern Plastics, we learned how specialized plastics serve demanding industries, including medical, aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing. The company also demonstrated remarkable ingenuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, designing and producing 50 million plastic face shields in a single year.

At QTL in Milford, we saw how a Connecticut manufacturer with deep family roots continues to light the way with its innovative LED lighting technology and invest in ongoing research and development. With more than a century of family history in the lighting industry, QTL is proving that its future looks bright.

One theme stood out today: Connecticut manufacturers need a steady pipeline of skilled talent, along with the creativity, adaptability and technical expertise to keep evolving.

Thanks to today's hosts for opening their doors and sharing their stories with us. Wednesday, we're headed to New Haven for four more stops and new opportunities to discover what makes Connecticut manufacturing so distinctive!

CBIA Foundation

10/13/2026

Ready to strengthen your continuous improvement toolkit?

CONNSTEP’s Lean 101 | Fall 2026 is coming up November 12, offering a practical, full-day introduction to Lean principles and tools you can start applying right away.

In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to:
💠 Recognize and eliminate the 8 Wastes (DOWNTIME)
💠 Apply Lean tools like 5S, Standard Work, Point-of-Use Storage, Quality at the Source, and Pull/Kanban
💠 Identify value-added and non-value-added activities
💠 Improve productivity, quality, delivery, and overall operational performance

Whether you’re new to Lean or looking to strengthen your organization’s foundation for continuous improvement, Lean 101 is designed for professionals across manufacturing, operations, engineering, sales, and supply chain.

Build a common understanding of Lean—and take practical tools back to your workplace.

📅 November 12, Hartford
👉 Reserve your seat: https://connstep.info/46iaPVI

10/12/2026

Day one of the 20026 Connecticut Manufacturing Tour is complete!

For the third consecutive year, CONNSTEP is proud to partner with our CBIA Foundation colleagues and the CBIA Manufacturing Coalition to showcase the companies, technologies and workforce development programs shaping the future of manufacturing in Connecticut.

Our first day featured four stops that highlighted the breadth of manufacturing expertise across our state. At AVNA, Formerly Okay Industries in Berlin, we saw the precision behind medical device components, including those used in the da Vinci surgical robot, where there is no room for error. The rest of the day took us to Farmington where at ebm-papst, we learned how high-efficiency air technology is helping meet growing cooling demands, including those of AI data centers. At TRUMPF Inc., we explored advanced metal cutting, bending and their incredible smart factory technology.

Passionate educators leading the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program at CT State Tunxis explained how hands-on education is preparing the next generation of manufacturing talent. Students are developing skills in CNC machining, manual machining and quality inspection, gaining real-world experience to prepare them for careers in manufacturing. One memorable takeaway? The students even made handmade tic-tac-toe boards for each of us to bring home, putting their newly learned skills to work in a thoughtful and tangible way.

Across all four stops it was clear that Connecticut manufacturing depends on skilled people, continuous innovation and a strong pipeline of talent. From companies addressing workforce challenges to educational programs connecting students with real-world experience, investing in the next generation is essential to the industry's future.

It was a great start to the week. We're looking forward to what tomorrow brings in Fairfield County!

10/12/2026

🚨 Last chance to turn your marketing to-do list into real results!

If marketing keeps getting pushed aside, this hands-on workshop is built for you.

Marketing for Manufacturers, a 3-day workshop for small business owners and sales teams who are managing marketing without formal training, begins October 22.

With guidance from local marketing professionals and industry experts, you’ll work on a real marketing project for your business—and leave with something you can actually use.

Choose a project with immediate value, including:
▪️ B2B capabilities statement
▪️ Sales promotional one-sheeter
▪️ Short-form video content
▪️ YouTube channel strategy
▪️ CRM lead-nurturing workflows
▪️ Branded email newsletter
▪️ Website chat agent for lead capture
▪️ Or your own custom project idea

This isn’t just a class. You’ll build marketing assets for your business while you learn.

There’s still time to register—don’t wait! https://connstep.info/4xRPhLe