The “Stress of Success”: How Soap Manufacturer Dr. Squatch Overcame Their Growing Pains
Dr. Squatch experienced rapid growth within a three-year timeframe – going from 10 employees in an apartment to more than 300 employees spread out over headquarters and two manufacturing sites. During this time, Dr. Squatch became the largest cold-processed soap manufacturer in the United States. However, as customer demand increased, Dr. Squatch began experiencing operational challenges. The company needed assistance with plant operational efficiency, workforce training, leadership skills development, and hiring. CMTC assisted Dr. Squatch with business planning and culture building to attract and retain employees during the COVID pandemic. CMTC also conducted a Lean assessment and introduced recommendations for operational improvements and leadership development. In addition, CMTC helped Dr. Squatch access critical funding through the California Competes Tax Credit award, ensuring their continued growth in California. Click here to view the full video!
State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act, which reauthorized and funded the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The new version of the SSBCI program provides a combined $10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to empower small businesses to access capital needed to invest in job-creating opportunities as the country emerges from the pandemic. The funds will also support recipient jurisdictions in promoting American entrepreneurship and democratizing access to startup capital across the country, including in underserved communities. Click here to learn more!
El Camino College Smart Manufacturing Conference
El Camino College, in partnership with CADENCE, CESMII, and UCLA, will be hosting the "Make Smart Manufacturing Work for You" conference on October 25th at 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM PT. The conference will feature industry-renowned speakers who will discuss smart manufacturing best practices for small and medium-sized businesses. Learn how to harness the inherent intelligence within your manufacturing facility to improve performance and reduce costs — register now!
Strategic Planning for Manufacturers: A Comprehensive Guide
Competition in the manufacturing industry is fierce, with ever-changing consumer demands, supply chain challenges, and new technologies all shifting the landscape. With these unpredictable and fluctuating market conditions, it’s important to continually assess strategic objectives and organizational goals to effectively plan for the future and stay in alignment with your company’s mission.
In CMTC's latest guide, you’ll learn how to create and implement a strategic plan to improve your resiliency and "future-proof" your business. Download the guide here!
Manufacturing Month California 2022 is Finally Here!
National Manufacturing Day, an annual event that occurs on the first Friday of every October, is an occasion during which manufacturers open their doors, showcase the potential of modern manufacturing, and foster interest in manufacturing careers. Manufacturing Day 2022 was officially observed on Friday, October 7th, but since manufacturing in California is too big for a single day, we celebrate MFG Month CA!
Cybersecurity Awareness Month — celebrated every October — was created in 2004 as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to be safe and secure online.
NIST has partnered with other federal agencies to help raise awareness about cybersecurity and engage with public and private sector partners through events and initiatives to raise awareness about cybersecurity, provide them with tools and resources needed to stay safe online, and increase the resiliency of the Nation in the event of a cyber incident. Interested in learning more?Get involved today!
2022 Baldrige Fall Conference: Lighting the Way to Excellence
During the 2022 Baldrige Conference, CMTC Quality Practice Lead Eliot Dratch and California Council for Excellence Board Chair Denise Shields will be delivering a presentation entitled, "Providing Higher Quality Jobs to Attract Higher Quality Workers: The Baldrige Connection." Eliot and Denise will discuss how companies should be looking at themselves more critically to make sure their job offerings are of the highest quality possible. In addition, they will give an overview of the U.S. Commerce Department’s recently released “Job Quality Toolkit” and review the drivers of what a “good job” looks and feels like. Eliot and Denise will explain how the toolkit was derived from the globally-recognized Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the U.S. Department of Labor, and how it incorporates insights from many job quality experts. Register for the conference today!
Made in California Showcase
Today’s customers are looking for American-made products because they associate them with quality. In fact, research studies have revealed that 60% of Americans are willing to pay more for products made here at home. So, adding a Made in CA logo to your website and marketing and packaging materials can really pay off. There’s no cost to join the other 2,000-plus Made in CA members, just click here to sign up.
This Month's Featured Manufacturers
CALWIRE INC. | OMEGASONICS MIDNIGHT HOUR | JETBED
Every month, CMTC is proud to showcase manufacturers participating in the Made in CA program. Featured companies appear in order from when they qualified for and joined the program. Each week, a single featured manufacturer is promoted on the Made in CA social media sites, giving that company even more visibility. Check out our featured manufacturers:
Latest Blog Posts
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
How to Apply for (Almost) Any U.S. Manufacturing Grant
A significant amount of funding for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in the U.S. comes from grants, loans, and private funders. Every year, about $500 billion in U.S. government spending goes to aid for various sectors, with a significant amount allocated to manufacturing. The amount of capital available to manufacturers has also increased in the post-COVID-19 era, especially with legislation like the CARES Act. It’s easier to secure funding now than ever before. In this blog, we’ll share some ways SMMs can take advantage of this funding by applying for U.S. manufacturing grants...
Intro to ISO 13485 for Medical Device Manufacturers
To truly succeed at regulatory compliance and become a player in national and international markets, organizations must invest in implementing leading quality, safety, and regulatory standards such as ISO 13485. The more your organization becomes familiar with internationally agreed-upon standards and the process of creating compliant quality management systems (QMSs), the easier it will be to receive certifications and conduct business with industry leaders. The ISO 13485 standard is designed to improve the safety and reliability of medical devices, but that’s not all it does...
California State Bill (SB) 1343 mandates that all employers with five or more employees must provide Harassment Avoidance Training to fulfill all CA requirements. CMTC offers web-based ‘live’ sessions supporting State and Federal regulations and facilitated by a Harassment Avoidance trainer. For a complete list of scheduled Harassment Avoidance Training sessions, click here.
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