Message from TechHelp Executive Director, Steve Hatten Some Idaho Companies are Thriving
In the last year, Idaho employment and gross state product have struggled in line with several other economic indicators. But a select group of Idaho manufacturers, such as Rekluse Motor Sports, are bucking that trend. They grew their revenue by developing new products and new markets, added to their bottom lines and hired employees. “They” are TechHelp’s clients. Through new product development, idea engineering and export strategies, TechHelp clients are innovating and growing sales. Through Lean manufacturing, quality systems and our new E3 program, TechHelp clients are cutting costs without cutting jobs. TechHelp clients reported the following impact in FY 2011 as direct results of their projects with us.
FY 2012 Results
Clients Surveyed 179
Created and Retained Jobs 335
Increased and Retained Sales $ 53,400,000
Cost Savings $ 10,600,000
Investments in Improvements $ 6,600,000
Student Employees/Interns 16
Contact me directly to learn how TechHelp’s front line helps Idaho companies improve their bottom line. I can be reached at 208.426.3689 orshatten@boisestate.edu.
Rekluse Motor Sports Hosts Open House to Celebrate 10th Anniversary Presented TechHelp Spirit of Continuous Innovation Award
Rekluse Motor Sports of Boise, Idahois an amazing Idaho success story. The company was launched in 2002 by Al Youngwerth, a dirt biking enthusiast who had an idea for a better motorcycle clutch. Today the company generates millions in domestic and international sales and produces quality American-made motorcycle parts in a modern manufacturing facility staffed by 40 employees.
Above, Rekluse Founder, Al Youngwerth, accepts the TechHelp Spirit of Continuous Innovation Award during an Open House at Rekluse on October 5 - National Manufacturing Day. In back of Al are, l-r, Sean Brown - Engineering/R&D, Joe DaGano - Sales & Marketing, Steve Hatten - TechHelp, Bob Ford of Senator Crapo's Office and Duane Daley - Production.
Innovation Engineering With a Brogue Irish Companies Innovate Their Way to Success
Beginning in the mid 1990's, TechHelp and its sister Centers in the national NIST MEP system cut their teeth and buttered their bread by offering services that helped US. Manufacturers make things better, faster, and more efficiently. In order to compete with the Japans and Germany's of the world, we had to. The new language of U.S. manufacturing included terms such as Lean, Muda, TPM, Six Sigma, ISO, Kaizen and 5S giving evidence that times had changed. But our work had just begun. With improved quality and efficiency in place, we turned our efforts to innovation. Even the Leanest of firms had to innovate in order to generate new products, markets, services, messages and models that could drive sales and healthy margins.
Enter Eureka! In the early 2000's, NIST MEP decided to go after innovation in a big way and sought out top experts nationwide to help build a program. NIST settled on READ MORE...
Apply For STEP Grant to Develop Export Program State Trade & Export Promotion Grants
State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP) Grants
Grant monies are now available to companies in any industry to assist with export market development and promotion activities. Businesses which are looking to increase their exports, find new markets, or get involved in exporting for the first time are encouraged to apply. Grants are also available to help your company participate in the Governor lead trade mission above.
Upcoming Deadlines: Round Two: January 25, 2013
Round Three: July 9, 2013
For more information & application needs please clickHERE.
Kronenberg Completes US AID Food Safety Project in Republic of Belarus Takes Food Safety Message to the World
Sept. 25, 2010 Boise, ID
Jeff Kronenberg (left, with broom), Extension Food Processing Specialist for the University of Idaho and TechHelp has returned back to Idaho after having completed a volunteer assignment in Belarus for the US AID CNFA Farmer-to-Farmer Program. Kronenberg completed a two week project involving two assignments. He provided food safety, HACCP, and ISO 22000 training/consulting for the snack food processor Onega in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus. The second task was providing a three day food safety and HACCP workshop for Belarus food industry personnel at the Scientific-Practical Center for Foodstuffs, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. During the project, over 40 individuals from private or government owned companies participated in food safety training courses. Besides the US AID sponsorship, the project was also supported by the University of Idaho, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, International Programs Office.
Onega is a private enterprise that manufactures snack products, including potato crisps, in-shell flavored sunflower seeds, muesli bars, roasted peanuts, crackers, and instant mashed potatoes. READ MORE...
Idaho TechJobs Site Goes Live Portal for IT Job Aggregation
There is a new tool designed to help those looking for an IT job or for companies looking for IT talent. The Boise Valley Economic Partnership, Idaho Department of Labor and the Idaho Technology Council joined together to address a challenge for many small to medium Idaho businesses - how to attract and recruit technology talent to Idaho.
As a result of that effort, the partnership has launched the first component of a multi-pronged collaborative approach – Idaho TechJobs (http://labor.idaho.gov/techjobs), a job aggregation site powered by the Idaho Department of Labor.
“The goal of the site is to show the depth and breadth of our technology community and the opportunities that reside here in order to attract and retain key talent,” said Roger Madsen, Director, Idaho Department of Labor.
The site is the culmination of a year of roundtables READ MORE...
New EMBOE Executive Master of Business Operational Excellence Boise State Teams with Kaizen Institute
Boise State teamed with the Kaizen Institute to offer the new EMBOE Executive Master of Business Operational Excellence Program. This unique program, developed and taught jointly by Kaizen Institute and Boise State University, builds skills in leadership, change management and process improvement for those in healthcare, manufacturing, service, education and the public sector. You will gain expertise in process improvement techniques with an emphasis on Lean, Six Sigma and other skills necessary to achieve business excellence in any organization.
Program at a Glance:
Accredited by the AACSB, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
12-month program (First Cohort Begins May 2013)
Four, week-long sessions in Boise, Idaho USA
One, week-long study mission in Japan
$44,700 tuition
Worry-Free: books, meals, workshops and study mission are all included in the program tuition
Classes held in brand new, state of the art Micron Business and Economics Building
Have an Idea or Submission for this Newsletter?
Contact Bill Mullane at williammullane@boisestate.edu or 208.426.2266
About TechHelp
TechHelp specialists provide technical and professional assistance, training and information to Idaho manufacturers, processors
and inventors to strengthen their global competitiveness through continuous product and process improvement. TechHelp is a
partnership of Idaho's three state universities and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It is also Idaho's Economic Development Administration University Center, targeting
economically distressed areas of Idaho.
Jeff Kronenberg (left, with broom), Extension Food Processing Specialist for the University of Idaho and TechHelp has returned back to Idaho after having completed a volunteer assignment in Belarus for the US AID CNFA Farmer-to-Farmer Program. Kronenberg completed a two week project involving two assignments. He provided food safety, HACCP, and ISO 22000 training/consulting for the snack food processor Onega in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus. The second task was providing a three day food safety and HACCP workshop for Belarus food industry personnel at the Scientific-Practical Center for Foodstuffs, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. During the project, over 40 individuals from private or government owned companies participated in food safety training courses. Besides the US AID sponsorship, the project was also supported by the University of Idaho, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, International Programs Office.
