Client Success: RSL Fiber Systems, Inc.
East Hartford
14 employees
COMPANY PROFILE
RSL Fiber
Systems (RSLFS), a subsidiary of Skyler Technologies Group,
Inc., has grown as rapidly as the light it transmits through its
fiber optic cable. The company has been the sole source provider of
advanced fiber optic illumination systems for the U.S. Navy since
2001. The RSLFS system is unique because light can be transmitted
more than 900 feet in their proprietary fiber optic cable. Remote
source lighting technology generates light in one location and then
transports it to other locations.
Skyler Technologies opened RSLFS' R&D and Manufacturing facility in East Hartford, Connecticut in 2007. With roots and key employees in Connecticut, Giovanni Tomasi, Chief Executive Officer of RSLFS, was happy to return to the state. Mr. Tomasi was also happy to discover that Connecticut has a variety of solutions to support small businesses.
He found technical and managerial talent in the Hartford area and a pro-technology business environment - both vital assets to the company. The Connecticut Development Authority (CDA) connected Mr. Tomasi to the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) which gave RSL Fiber Systems infrastructure support in its Regional Innovation Center. Later, CCAT connected RSLFS to CONNSTEP when the company needed to standardize its quality management system.
SITUATION
In 2008, the company secured a $9.8 million contract from
Northrop Grumman which stipulated that an ISO compliant quality
system had to be in place.ISO 9001 standards for a quality
management system specify organizational requirements in
documentation, procedures and operations. These standards are
important for a business focused on demonstrating its ability to
consistently provide products or services that meet customer
satisfaction and applicable regulatory requirements.
In light of robust growth, RSLFS made the strategic decision to standardize its quality, adapt its company philosophy and customize its infrastructure to meet business demands. To do this, they needed the assistance of a consultant.
SOLUTION
CONNSTEP's Dave Tufano became a member of RSLFS' Quality Team
and assisted in guiding the company towards its ISO Registration.
Conformance to ISO 9001 quality assurance standards meant RSLFS had
to implement increased documentation, training, procedural changes
and adjustments to their operating systems.
Achieving the registration impacts many aspects of a company's management system and so demands a strong company commitment to excellence - and enthusiastic participation of all company members. The entire company embraced the intent of ISO 9001. As Mr. Tomasi says, "When you put a quality management system in place, you need to embrace it as a company philosophy but customize it to meet the business needs."
RESULTS
Through the dedication of the RSLFS team, the leadership of
its Production Manager, Billie Jo Mitchell, and the support of
CONNSTEP, RSLFS received the ISO 9000:2008 registration for quality
management systems (QMS) in less than one year, January 2009. This
registration covers the design, manufacture, engineering services
and assembly of fiber optic based remote source lighting systems
for several military applications. The registration also confirms
the company's commitment to continuous process improvement through
performance monitoring and timely corrective/preventative
action.
As a complement to RSLFS' innovative technology and exceptional staff, ISO 9000:2008 registration has helped open new opportunities for other navy and government contracts and will be valuable as the company continues its pursuit of commercial applications. The ISO Registration was one of the significant factors that enabled RSLFS to:
Increase sales by over 30%.
Increase profitability through more
efficient business processes.
Meet customer contractual requirements.
Increase its workforce by over 40% and
retain eight positions to meet present demands and
expand in new markets.
In addition, RSLFS can proudly assert that the investment made by the State of Connecticut through the SBIP grant was more than paid back in state income taxes resulting from the increased business and higher staffing levels.
NEXT STEPS
RSLFS is focusing on the continued development and
sales of remote source lighting and advanced lighting technologies
for both the military/government and commercial markets. Commercial
applications for fiber optic lighting include industrial
environments, hazardous environments (mines, marine oil & gas
platforms, grain silos, and chemical plants), remote locations
(towers, bridges, etc), emergency lighting systems and
architectural illumination systems.
Mr. Tomasi believes that fiber optics is on the verge of revolutionizing the illumination industry the same way it completely changed the communications industry 25 years ago.