CCAT initiative wins national award

The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT) has received an award for Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Improvement from the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI).

The SSTI award recognizes CCAT's Manufacturing and Supply Chain Initiative (MSCI) for its efforts to bolster the competitiveness of the state's small and medium-sized aerospace and defense manufacturers through a program aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity. The initiative, which is funded by a $2 million grant from the State of Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), was launched at CCAT in December 2005 with the goal of helping the state's aerospace and defense manufacturers more effectively compete in the complex global supply chain.

More than 160 process improvement (lean/six sigma) projects have been funded at 60 Connecticut companies since the program's inception, and have led to dramatic gains in lead times (up 51 percent), cycle times (up 36 percent), changeover times (up 53 percent), quality levels (up 51 percent) and space utilization (up 45 percent). Participating companies have enjoyed increased efficiencies, competitiveness and customer satisfaction. In addition, the program has led to the creation of nearly 200 high-paying manufacturing jobs in the state.