David Blake, whose company Blue-9 Pet Products makes dog training and behavior products, needed a rubber mat. The specially designed mat is used on the KLIMB®, a platform used to train hunting/sport dogs. Blake’s mat maker was going out of business, leaving Blue-9 in need of a new vendor. He found one in South Dakota … Continue reading Making Vital Supply Connections
The term ‘culture’ is used in different ways with many different interpretations. When it comes to a business and its workforce though, I prefer describing culture as the personality of a business. Just like people, those personalities have benefits and drawbacks. Energetic businesses are busy coming up with new innovative ideas, they are social, adventurous … Continue reading Elevating Business Success through Cultural Transformation
Steve Forbes joined CIRAS as a Process Improvement Project Manager. Steve Forbes brings a rich background in Lean thinking and methodologies from various manufacturing environments. His most recent role was as the Lean Training Specialist for Iowa Prison Industries (IPI), where he co-developed the Prison Industries Manufacturing and Management System (PIMMS). PIMMS is a Toyota-based … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Steve Forbes
An in-person training to better understand BidX and the DOT bidding systems will occur on Thursday, February 29th, in Ames. This software is an incredible tool to help vendors bid on DOT Contracts and Specifications projects and connect prime contractors to subcontractors. Lunch will be provided, and this event does require you to register in … Continue reading CIRAS Offers Bid Express Training
The Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program, managed by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, offers financial support to enhance small-scale meat processing operations, including licensed custom lockers and mobile slaughter units. The program targets businesses seeking to expand, refurbish, or establish new facilities, providing grants of up to $100,000 with a one-to-one matching requirement. For … Continue reading Enhance your meat processing capabilities with the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program
Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. I like to say, I help companies solve their problems. This can mean I help them identify a new supplier or it can mean, I connect them to a resource either at CIRAS or external … Continue reading Q & A with Melissa Burant
This blog was produced by Industry Week in partnership with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. View the original blog post here. As a manufacturer you understand that supply chain disruptions happen all the time. What you don’t know is when or how they will impact your operation and business. But assessing your supply chain risks and implementing … Continue reading Mapping Your Supply Chains Helps Prioritize Risks, Actions
This blog was produced by the Manufacturing Innovation Blog Powered by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. View the original blog post here. Manufacturing internships are one of the most effective methods for building your company’s talent pipeline. In my role as project manager for workforce programs at Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), I help manufacturers … Continue reading Manufacturing Internships Expand the Talent Pipeline
Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. As an Event Manager at CIRAS, I oversee in-person events led by my colleagues. I coordinate the event’s overall logistics to ensure companies have an enjoyable experience when attending our events. We know that companies … Continue reading Q & A with Jennifer Garcia
If you have an innovative product or service, several avenues exist to help grow and expand your innovation into the government and other markets. Some avenues are more appropriate for fully developed technologies, while others are better suited for technologies under development. Some offer funding assistance, while others help you bypass the red tape involved … Continue reading Unlocking Opportunities: Navigating Avenues for Innovation in Government Markets