Clark State offered a cost-effective ISO certification training class, which enabled our small business to achieve this important certification. The program was instrumental in our success. When we originally participated in ISO training, we had 5 employees and we have grown to over 40 employees in a few short years. Not only did the Clark State ISO program set us up for success in our FDA-regulated market, but it also served as a foundation for solid business practices that we continue to utilize and refine to improve our business every day. For a small business like us, it was instrumental to have access to this affordable program and get the support we needed to elevate our business to what it is today.
We’ve been able to speak directly with students and other business professionals through the various events hosted by our local colleges. This has enabled us to stay connected and help drive learning outcomes; assuring our future workforce has the skills necessary for our success. Meeting with other business professionals at these events gave us insight into emerging technologies which originally led us down the path for Tangible Solutions to become a contract manufacturer in the medical field.
It took 20-hour days on our part, and we still have the cots in the office to remind us. But we would not be the company we are, known around the world, without the support we got from our local community colleges.
When we needed to acquire a larger facility and support with funding incentives, Clark State connected us with the Fairborn Economic Development team who knew of a great location. In a beautiful bit of historical resonance, it once housed an ink-on-paper print shop.
These days, our community-college relationships center on workforce development, and the partnership is as essential as ever. At this point, at least half of our staff members have attended Clark or Sinclair, taking coursework to earn industry certifications or work toward associate’s degrees that can enable them to advance in their careers. The affordability of community colleges makes it possible for our employees to take those steps.
Our staff even act as mentors and even tutors to those currently studying. When one of our deburr technicians (an entry-level position involving cleaning and polishing precision machined products) was taking classes to qualify as a machinist and ran into a class problem she couldn’t immediately solve, the machinists on the floor got together and helped her figure it out. It was a refresher for them and a reminder for all of us of the teamwork that defines our success.
I like to think the benefits of our relationship go both ways; Tangible Solutions has helped develop curriculum for Clark State, and when the college was starting its advanced manufacturing program, our relationship helped secure larger grants for the project. Clark State is now the only Ohio community college with a program for laser material processing technicians.
But I know we could not have gotten our company off the ground without the help of our community college partners. As we continue to grow, I know they’ll continue to be essential to our future.
Adam Clark is chief executive officer of Tangible Solutions, a leading contract manufacturer of American-made 3D-printed titanium orthopedic implants.
About the Author