Catalyst Connection

Catalyst Connection Catalyst Connection is a manufacturing consulting group that is committed to advancing the performance of manufacturing companies in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Catalyst Connection is a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We provide consulting and training services to small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, accelerating revenue growth and improving productivity. Through active collaboration with our clients and the manufacturing community at large, we contribute to the growth, vibrancy, and ongoing robu

stness of manufacturing in our region. Catalyst Connection is supported, in part, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Our Mission:
Our mission is to serve as a CATALYST for the growth and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and the CONNECTION for communities to high-paying manufacturing jobs. Our Vision:
Southwestern Pennsylvania will be a global leader in advanced manufacturing, fostering opportunities for all members of our community to thrive and prosper. At Catalyst Connection, our commitment to integrity, relationships, adaptability, and service guides our interactions with colleagues, clients, and partners in the manufacturing community of southwestern Pennsylvania. By embodying these principles, we foster a cooperative and innovative workplace culture that drives the regional manufacturing sector toward sustained growth and excellence. Catalyst Connection has four core values:

- Integrity: Upholding honesty, accountability, dependability, and trustworthiness in all actions and interactions.
- Relationships: Fostering positive and collaborative relationships through empathy, respect, clarity, and teamwork.
- Adaptability: Embracing flexibility, openness, and humility to effectively navigate change.
- Service: Contributing to the well-being of our community. Catalyst Connection remains steadfast in our mission to empower manufacturers, strengthen partnerships, and drive innovation.

Today’s learners are entering a workforce shaped by automation, data, and advanced technologies. This program helps educ...
06/18/2026

Today’s learners are entering a workforce shaped by automation, data, and advanced technologies. This program helps educators and training professionals connect that reality to education, training, and career exploration with clarity and confidence.

Across three sessions, participants will:
• See modern manufacturing in action
• Build connections with industry
• Develop practical ideas for real‑world application

📅July 29 | August 5 | August 12
⏰ 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Spots are limited. No cost to attend.
Register now: https://bit.ly/4td3qkw

Robotics technicians. Automation specialists. Controls engineers.These are among the fastest-growing roles in manufactur...
06/17/2026

Robotics technicians. Automation specialists. Controls engineers.

These are among the fastest-growing roles in manufacturing — and the credential that validates readiness for them is the SME Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) certification.

Catalyst Connection's Robotics & Automation Workforce Bootcamp Series is a four-part, hands-on training pathway that takes you from foundational robotics concepts to advanced automation applications — and prepares you to earn it.

What you'll work with across the series:
— Collaborative robots and 6-axis industrial arms
— Autonomous quadrupeds and humanoid systems
— Industrial conveyors, sensors, and I/O systems
— Real workcell integration and troubleshooting scenarios

Each bootcamp is a 3-day intensive: two days of hands-on instruction, one day of certification-focused prep.

Take one. Take all four. Either way, you're building skills that translate directly to careers in robotics, automation, advanced manufacturing, and industrial technology.

If you're looking to break into one of the most in-demand fields in modern industry — or level up where you already are — this is the pathway.

📅 First session begins July 7 - Register: https://bit.ly/4azInRH

You know your process. You know your product. But leading people — coaching, accountability, keeping a team moving in th...
06/17/2026

You know your process. You know your product. But leading people — coaching, accountability, keeping a team moving in the same direction — that's a different skill set entirely.

Most manufacturing supervisors never got formal training in how to lead. They learned on the fly, from whoever was around them. Some of those habits are great. Some aren't.

The Lean Supervisor, Inspired by the Toyota Way is a four-part virtual training built specifically for frontline manufacturing leaders ready to be more intentional about how they lead.

You'll learn the tools Toyota-style leaders use every day:
— Standard work that reduces variation and confusion
— Tiered meetings that surface problems before they escalate
— Coaching techniques that build ownership, not dependence
— Problem-solving frameworks your team can actually use

Four sessions. Virtual. Practical. Immediately applicable on the shop floor.

If you're a supervisor who wants to lead better — not just manage more — this program was built for you.

📅 Begins July 9: Register: https://bit.ly/4vKQcMv

Most manufacturers aren't struggling with a lack of data.They're struggling with a lack of time, workforce capacity, and...
06/16/2026

Most manufacturers aren't struggling with a lack of data.

They're struggling with a lack of time, workforce capacity, and a way to capture decades of knowledge before it walks out the door.

In the latest episode of the Smart Factory Podcast, Adam Marsh of Ledge discusses practical AI applications that manufacturers are using today to improve quality management, streamline quoting and scheduling, review contracts, and create digital work instructions.

The conversation explores how manufacturers can:
• Preserve tribal knowledge before experienced employees retire
• Avoid common AI implementation mistakes
• Identify high-value use cases that don't require major capital investments
• Build a realistic roadmap for AI adoption

For many small and mid-sized manufacturers, AI may be one of the most accessible entry points into Industry http://4.0.

🎧 Listen to From Tribal Knowledge to AI: Practical Manufacturing Applications That Work:
https://bit.ly/3QIzYok

How do you know if an Industry http://4.0 investment is actually worth it?That's exactly the kind of question Catalyst C...
06/16/2026

How do you know if an Industry http://4.0 investment is actually worth it?

That's exactly the kind of question Catalyst Connection's Enhanced Operations Management training is built to answer.

This 4-hour workshop for manufacturing business and technical leaders goes beyond the buzzwords — covering Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) principles, how IIoT, Big Data, and AI integrate with existing Lean practices, and critically, how to evaluate the ROI of digital transformation initiatives before you commit.

You'll leave with a clear, practical implementation roadmap tailored to where your operation actually is — not where a vendor wants you to think you need to be.

Who should attend: Operations leaders, project managers, and anyone driving or evaluating digital transformation at their manufacturing company.

📅 4 hours. Expert-led. Hands-on.
Register today: https://bit.ly/3QqVo9t

Every defect that slips through your process has a price tag. Rework. Scrap. Customer returns. Warranty claims. Lost con...
06/15/2026

Every defect that slips through your process has a price tag.

Rework. Scrap. Customer returns. Warranty claims. Lost contracts.

The cost of poor quality adds up fast — and for small and mid-sized manufacturers, it can be the difference between growing and just getting by.

Quality control isn't just a final inspection step. It's a system. And building that system starts with foundational knowledge.

Catalyst Connection's Basics of Quality Control workshop gives your team the tools to:
✔ Understand key QC principles and terminology
✔ Identify defects earlier in the process
✔ Implement practical inspection and measurement techniques
✔ Build a culture where quality is everyone's responsibility Ideal for front-line workers, leads, and supervisors ready to raise the bar.

📋 Register here: https://bit.ly/4vQkr4O

Finding skilled robotics and automation talent is becoming harder every year.That's why we're offering a FREE 4-part Rob...
06/10/2026

Finding skilled robotics and automation talent is becoming harder every year.

That's why we're offering a FREE 4-part Robotics & Automation Workforce Bootcamp Series designed to build the workforce manufacturers need today.

🤖 Robotics Programming & Motion Fundamentals
🛡️ Robotics Safety & Workcell Integration
⚡ Industrial Wiring, Sensors, I/O & Troubleshooting
🚀 Advanced Robotics Systems

Participants who complete all four bootcamps will be well-prepared to earn the nationally recognized Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) certification.

✅ $2,000 value — completely free
✅ Hands-on training
✅ Industry-recognized credential pathway

The future of manufacturing needs a future-ready workforce.

View our training calendar here: https://bit.ly/4xlDOnY

A structured way to connect education with real manufacturing.This 3-day summer series gives educators direct exposure t...
06/10/2026

A structured way to connect education with real manufacturing.

This 3-day summer series gives educators direct exposure to advanced manufacturing environments and practical tools for classroom application.

📍 July 29 – Mill 19
📍 August 5 – CCAC Allegheny Campus
📍 August 12 – Digital Foundry

⏰ 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Participants who complete all three days receive a $150 stipend and Act 48 hours.

Spots are limited. Register now. https://bit.ly/3Q10Hfk

What does it take to grow a manufacturing company from a small welding operation into a critical supplier serving defens...
06/09/2026

What does it take to grow a manufacturing company from a small welding operation into a critical supplier serving defense, energy, and data center markets?

In the latest episode of the Smart Factory Podcast, Bill Polacek of JWF Industries shares the leadership lessons, workforce strategies, and culture-driven approach that helped fuel the company’s growth over the past four decades.

From investing in people and building strong community partnerships to navigating changing markets and supporting national security initiatives, this conversation offers valuable insights for manufacturers focused on long-term success.

🎧 Listen now:
https://bit.ly/4fyPiOA

Your supervisors can either be your greatest competitive advantage—or the reason good employees leave.Many manufacturers...
06/09/2026

Your supervisors can either be your greatest competitive advantage—or the reason good employees leave.

Many manufacturers struggle with accountability issues, communication breakdowns, inconsistent performance, and employee turnover. Often, the root cause isn't the process—it's a lack of leadership training for frontline supervisors.

Catalyst Connection's Lean Supervisory Training Series helps supervisors build practical leadership skills inspired by Lean principles and the Toyota Way.

✔ Improve communication and engagement
✔ Strengthen accountability
✔ Develop problem-solving skills
✔ Lead with confidence and consistency

📅 July 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2026

💻 Virtual Training Series

🎉 Special Offer: The first 15 registrants can attend 100% free using discount code LEAN at checkout.
https://bit.ly/4vEPRLy

Address

4501 Lytle Street, Suite 301
Pittsburgh, PA
15207

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14129184300

Website

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