When they began the TAAF program 3 years ago, this Indiana automotive supplier could not have predicted their recent switch into the medical market. The move began when Covid-19 dealt them an unexpected blow. But they were able to bounce back, in part, because of their initial TAAF co-funded projects – including efforts which helped them develop better leadership skills and a unified vision.
The manufacturer had joined the effort to make critical PPE, at first to replace a slowdown in automotive-related business and to help beat the virus, but then they saw how well they could fit into the medical market. Their most recent TAAF project got them in shape to pass their ISO 13485 certification audit – a requirement for suppliers to the medical device industry. The certification, in addition to previous TAAF co-funded training and market research projects, have put them on a path to re-balance their product mix and increase revenue as they diversify.
