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 robustness 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.

Most conversations about AI start with productivity.The more interesting conversation is what becomes possible once AI r...
10/09/2026

Most conversations about AI start with productivity.

The more interesting conversation is what becomes possible once AI removes barriers that used to limit growth, innovation, and decision-making.

Bob Evans of Cloud Wars discusses why AI should be viewed as a catalyst for entirely new opportunities, not just a tool for working faster.

If you're thinking about AI strategy, this episode is worth your time.

🎧 This is just one of many conversations on the Smart Factory Podcast.

Discover insights from manufacturing leaders across workforce development, AI, automation, supply chain, leadership, innovation, and industrial growth.

Listen to the full series: https://bit.ly/4uQqO79

AI is already showing up in manufacturing workplaces. The bigger question is: Is your team using it in ways that actuall...
10/07/2026

AI is already showing up in manufacturing workplaces. The bigger question is: Is your team using it in ways that actually improve the work?

For some teams, the challenge is knowing where AI can realistically save time. Others have experimented with it but haven’t found a repeatable way to incorporate it into daily processes. And for organizations already working in Microsoft 365, the opportunity may be connecting AI more directly to the tools employees use every day.

Catalyst Connection has three upcoming hands-on learning opportunities designed for different stages of that journey.

The goal isn’t simply to “use AI.” It’s to identify where it can remove friction, improve a process, or give your team time back.

Explore the upcoming sessions and find the right starting point for your team. https://bit.ly/4eem062

A small misunderstanding on a print can become a much bigger problem on the shop floor.Wrong dimensions. Missed toleranc...
10/07/2026

A small misunderstanding on a print can become a much bigger problem on the shop floor.

Wrong dimensions. Missed tolerances. Rework. Scrap. Production delays.

Technical drawings are one of the primary ways engineering communicates what needs to be made. When employees can confidently interpret that information, they’re better equipped to catch questions before material is cut, parts are produced or problems move downstream.

Blueprint-reading skills can help manufacturing teams:
→ Interpret dimensions, symbols and drawing conventions more confidently
→ Better understand what engineering is communicating
→ Ask better questions when something on a print is unclear
→ Reduce mistakes caused by misinterpretation
→ Build a stronger foundation for machining, fabrication, inspection and quality roles

For manufacturers looking to strengthen these foundational skills, Introduction to Blueprint Reading provides practical instruction for employees who work with—or need to become more comfortable working with—technical drawings.

View training details and register: https://bit.ly/4yCSgIy

🚨 Earn Your Energy Efficiency Certification in 30 Minutes!New Online Free Training Available.As an Energy Efficiency Cer...
10/06/2026

🚨 Earn Your Energy Efficiency Certification in 30 Minutes!

New Online Free Training Available.

As an Energy Efficiency Certified Professional, you demonstrate that you are taking an active role in reducing costs and improving efficiency for your company.

That's exactly why we created Energy Efficiency for Everyone.

This self-paced online course takes as little as 30 minutes and helps you:
🏅 Learn practical energy-saving strategies you can use immediately
🏅 Earn your certified professional badge upon completion
🏅 Help your company earn the certified manufacturer badge when at least 10% of employees complete the training

Begin now! https://bit.ly/4zi3lP0

When two employees approach work differently, is it really a performance problem — or are different expectations getting...
10/06/2026

When two employees approach work differently, is it really a performance problem — or are different expectations getting in the way?

Manufacturing teams increasingly bring together employees with different experiences, communication preferences and expectations about work. Those differences can be an advantage, but they can also create friction when teams don’t understand where one another are coming from.

The goal isn’t to get every generation to work the same way. It’s to help people work better together.

That means learning how to:
→ Recognize how generational experiences can influence workplace expectations
→ Adapt communication without making assumptions or relying on stereotypes
→ Reduce misunderstandings between coworkers and supervisors
→ Build stronger collaboration across age groups
→ Turn different perspectives into a team advantage

On October 21, SkillMill19™ is hosting Bridging Generational Gaps in the Workplace, an interactive session designed to help participants put these ideas into practice.

Manufacturers can attend at no cost through SkillMill19™. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4j61KqO

How much time gets lost between “we have an idea” and “we have something we can test”?For manufacturers, product and pro...
10/05/2026

How much time gets lost between “we have an idea” and “we have something we can test”?

For manufacturers, product and process improvements often require multiple rounds of design, communication and revision before anyone can evaluate a physical part.

3D CAD can help shorten that cycle.

With the ability to quickly model a concept, adjust dimensions and prepare a design for rapid prototyping, teams can:
→ Explore ideas before committing resources
→ Identify design issues earlier
→ Communicate more clearly between engineering and production
→ Iterate faster when something needs to change
→ Move more efficiently from concept to a testable part

And these capabilities aren’t limited to dedicated CAD specialists. Building practical 3D modeling skills within your team can give more employees the tools to turn ideas into something tangible.

For manufacturers interested in developing that capability, our upcoming 3D Engineering CAD with Onshape session provides hands-on experience taking a design from the screen toward a physical prototype.

📅 October 20 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 CMU Manufacturing Futures Institute
💲 No cost for manufacturers through SkillMill19™

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4y2WEPI

What does modern manufacturing actually look like?Today, students had the chance to find out firsthand at MFG Day @ Mill...
10/02/2026

What does modern manufacturing actually look like?

Today, students had the chance to find out firsthand at MFG Day @ Mill 19.

Throughout the day, they explored robotics, automation, CNC machining, additive manufacturing and other advanced technologies—while meeting the manufacturers and industry professionals who put them to work every day.

Experiences like these give students an opportunity to see beyond outdated perceptions of manufacturing and discover the technology, skills and career paths shaping the industry today.

A big thank you to the manufacturers, partners, educators and students who joined us and helped bring manufacturing to life.

This is what building the next generation of manufacturing looks like.

This past Friday, we gathered with Terri Campbell’s family and friends to celebrate her retirement. It was a chance to s...
09/30/2026

This past Friday, we gathered with Terri Campbell’s family and friends to celebrate her retirement. It was a chance to share stories, thank her, and reflect on just how much she has meant to Catalyst Connection and the manufacturers she’s worked with.

Since returning to Catalyst in 2018, Terri has helped put nearly 675 project agreements in place, representing almost $3.4 million in services. The manufacturers she worked with have reported more than $129 million in total economic impact.

Those are incredible numbers, but anyone who knows Terri knows there’s more to the story. She takes the time to get to know people, understand what they need, and follow through. She has built relationships that mean a great deal to our team and to the companies we serve.

Terri, thank you for the work you’ve done and for the person you’ve been to all of us. We will miss you. Wishing you a happy retirement! 💙

What manufacturing challenge would you like to hear discussed next?The Smart Factory Podcast brings together manufacture...
09/25/2026

What manufacturing challenge would you like to hear discussed next?

The Smart Factory Podcast brings together manufacturers, technology leaders and industry experts for candid conversations about what’s changing—and what’s working—across the industry.

Explore practical insights on:
⚙️ Automation and advanced technology
🤖 Real-world applications of AI
👥 Workforce and leadership strategies
📈 Business growth and operational improvement
⚡ Energy and sustainable manufacturing

Listen to the latest episodes, then tell us in the comments: What topic or guest should we feature next?

🎧 Explore the Smart Factory Podcast:
https://bit.ly/4hFkSKT

AI is moving quickly—but is your team building the skills to use it effectively?For small and mid-sized manufacturers, A...
09/23/2026

AI is moving quickly—but is your team building the skills to use it effectively?

For small and mid-sized manufacturers, AI adoption does not begin with choosing the most advanced tool. It begins with giving employees the right training for where they are today.

Catalyst Connection is offering three hands-on learning opportunities:

🔹 AI Essentials: From Beginner to Confident User
📅 October 15 | No cost
A beginner-friendly introduction for employees who want to understand AI and use it more confidently.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ji1zbO

🔹 AI for Manufacturers: Claude Edition
📅 October 20 | $250 per person
An intermediate-level session focused on practical manufacturing applications using Claude.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4y8FRM1

🔹 AI for Manufacturers: Copilot Edition
📅 November 10 | $250 per person
An intermediate-level session focused on putting Microsoft Copilot to work within everyday business workflows.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4y8FSzz

The question is no longer whether AI will influence manufacturing. It is whether your workforce will be prepared to use it with purpose.

Choose the training that best matches your team’s current experience and the tools your organization uses.

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

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