The 5G initiative is a technological leap that cannot be ignored. From processes as simple as loading the internet on smartphones, to the implementation of robots in supermarkets (stemming right here in the Tampa Bay area), it’s hard to deny that a monumental change is rapidly approaching.

All this excitement for the future stems from the development and implementation of the fifth generation – 5G – of wireless. We’ve heard other wireless options touted before – 4G, LTE; what makes 5G so different, important, and disruptive? 5G is an industry growing out of the quick pace of development, a solution to the “internet of things” - the connection of machines via wireless to quickly propagate information, enabling complex operations. It’s the backbone for advancement into the realm of self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, and other autonomous gadgets to improve society.

There’s a problem. The internet isn’t fast enough – at least, until 5G rolled around. Using millimeter wave spectrums – extremely small wavelengths with high frequencies capable of carrying a lot of data – 5G is promising speeds of one-hundred times faster than 4G. Businesses and markets taking advantage of 5G will have distinct advantages over others. As for smaller businesses and those at home? The benefits are plentiful. The implementation of fifth generation wireless will result in unprecedented download speeds, bandwidth increases, and reduced latency (the time it takes for wireless communication).

The impacts of 5G are coming, and it will truly be a revolutionary jump. From our personal lives, to business, to national security, America needs to seize the opportunities of fifth generation networking.
We live a life surrounded by technology. It’s time to make your work more impactful by getting a head start in 5G’s implementation.
 
To do this, you want partners who have experience in pioneering network technologies and can deliver effective solutions that are convenient to you. CME has expertise in digital energy – intelligent power management – to prioritize your resources towards maximizing 5G’s blistering speed

You’ve put a lot of hard work into your vision, and you are dedicated to creating a superior end-result. You shouldn’t have to be afraid of a low-quality end-result or faulty components. Testing is the only way to guarantee the quality and durability of your products. When considering the safety of your product you should consider what types of testing are necessary. For instance, pressure testing ensures a product’s safety, compliance, and efficiency.

Testing saves you time and resources, and it is a necessary building block toward the successful launch of a product. Another type of testing you might want to consider is calibration. Calibration laboratories and testing centers help to provide these services. CME specializes in pressure calibration services. With an A2LA accredited ISO 17025 Calibration Lab, we have the tools to ensure success across a variety of situations, and we can adapt to your needs.

CME also provides certificates of compliance to customers who require one, building your reputation and helping you fulfill more orders. CME offers a comprehensive list of equipment serviced on our website. As a part of our commitment to customer success, we also offer a free calibration after four pieces are calibrated.

Either as customers, professionals, or entrepreneurs, with our investment, we expect quality in return. Quality is the building block for trust. Providing inferior products damages your reputation, relationships, time, and resources. As a customer, you want to trust that you are receiving a quality end-result from your vendor.  
 
“High levels of quality are essential to achieve Company business objectives. Quality, a source of competitive advantage, should remain a hallmark of Company products and services. High quality is not an added value; it is an essential basic requirement” [1]
 
In the industry of manufacturing, quality and quality assurance, are essential requirements. Particularly in  aerospace, automotive, and industrial manufacturing – you want an experienced manufacturer who  understands of why quality is paramount to your success.
 

Quality is essential; thereby, it’s something we – CME – have set as an expectation. Lack of quality can cut into your bottom line or public image.
 
We continuously invest in our culture of accountability, through a customer proven process, and through various certifications. We are certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO-9001), and the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Our commitment to quality is driven by our desire to ensure we meet your needs. You deserve a quality manufacturer.
 
Dedication to our core values demonstrates our loyalty as a company. We take an equal amount of pride in the products of our customers as our own. As long as we are entrusted in providing you custom solutions, CME’s mission to offer quality services and products to ensure your success.

[1] Manghani Kishu “Quality Assurance: Importance of Systems and… Procedures” National Health Institute (https://bit.ly/2F214yy)

The rapid development of solar panels poises them as a staple renewable energy alternative. As we all know, a side effect of burning fossil fuels is the emission of greenhouse gases. Compounds such as carbon and sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and fine particular matter (sometimes referred to as PM2.5) are released into the atmosphere.

Solar is a clean alternative that is becoming more affordable everyday as scientists and engineers develop smaller and more effective PV cells. With its falling cost, the widespread adoption of solar is highly likely.
Solar provides energy independence and bolsters the environment. Investment in solar is investment in the future of communities and businesses.

Systems such as the Solar4 line provide power in lifesaving situations. The threat
of hurricanes can compromise an entire electrical grid. Without backups, power may not be restored for weeks putting both lives and property in jeopardy.

The expansive experience of CME with work in power supply units makes us a reliable choice in providing energy solutions for present and future customer needs. Compact and durable, Solar4POWER products fulfill power needs on the go and can function independently of a grid. Additionally, CME works to partner with education to highlight the importance of solar energy for the future of science and engineering. Through the Solar4STEM line, CME seeks to widen the accessibility of solar energy.
 
CME has the expertise to help you meet your particular solar needs. Whether it’s to engage audiences in the benefits of alternative energy, or for stability in crises, our experience over decades attests
quality. Our website includes a contact form for further information on how we can help you reach for personalized success with solar.

References:
[1] “Environmental and Public Health Benefits of Achieving High Penetration of Solar… United States” U.S. Department of Energy* (https://bit.ly/2XDIynH)
*These remarks are based on a report explaining the concept of the SunShot vision written by Wiser et al. (2016). The report can be found here:
(https://bit.ly/31peiiD)

Choosing a supplier that lacks quality may jeopardize your business, job security, and/or ability to fulfill deliveries of products to customers. After all of your hard work, failure should not be defined by others – so who do you trust?

With so many choices, a difficulty arises. Who do you conduct business with?

Certifications are tools that allow for transparency between you and a supplier. Certifications help to support a supplier's claims that they provide efficient, trustworthy work, leading to eventful outcomes for customers and vendors.

Certifications demonstrate a dedication to quality and a willingness to work among and towards principles. They mitigate risk by offering a track record for a company before investment is even called upon. Picturing workplaces with the resolve to consistently present products to a high level of quality, in addition to standing by the company’s and the customer’s values, allows for better economic security.

Offering good quality and an affable relationship, certifications also reinforce a commitment to continual support. Quality commitment is symbolic of a business’s concern for their customers.

In turn, this is indicative of continual improvement in management, production, sales and employment [2]. Dedication not only to withhold, yet to exceed customer expectations. CME is registered with and certified in ISO-9001 by NSF, and has held the ISO certification for years.
 
As a customer, you care deeply how a business is going to perform for you, not for others.
The standards for which certification agencies have established are better meters for personal experience than anecdotes.
 
Why not use a system that offers this expertise to you?
Certifications are the sensible method to eliminate risk to your business and its products.
 
CME holds multiple certifications in quality, precision, and calibration which are on display throughout our website, which contains further information available about our resolve toward
Increasing quality.
 
If you’re looking for a timely, professional grade solution that will bolster your reputation, look to a company whose commitment to seeing customer success has sustained it for decades.
 
Resources
[1] “ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements” ISO Online Browsing Platform (https://bit.ly/1MZTfHO)

[2] Levine, David I. and Toffel, Michael W. (August 18, 2008) “Quality Management and Job Quality: How the ISO 9001 Standard… Affects Employees and Employers” UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School

Hurricane season has begun, with many in Florida still recovering from Hurricane Michael which struck the panhandle in 2018.

When a hurricane strikes, life and property are put into extreme jeopardy. You shouldn’t have to worry about having inadequate resources for post-storm recovery.

NOAA’s prediction for the 2019 hurricane season listed 9-15 named storms, of which 2-4 are major. Do not leave your safety up to chance – major hurricanes often strike unpredictably.

Solar power after a hurricane saves lives – yours and others. Vest your trust in a company whose dedication to putting safety first for its customers is coupled with its understanding as being part of a community subjected to hurricane season.

Let us help you help others in the wake of a tragedy. In addition to providing emergency equipment, CME has professionals committed to the support of your preparation for hurricane season.

Hurricane season is here! So, what does that mean for Floridians? From June 1st to November 30th, Floridians check the weather a little closer and usually have a few extra water bottles handy just in case. Here are some helpful tips to keep you aware, prepared, and unafraid this hurricane season.

Your home is where all your memories, treasures, and loved ones live so make sure to keep it safe!

That same phone you are using to track the weather can also be used to take a video of your home and personal items to ensure your insurance company has you covered if something is to happen.

When a hurricane warning is issued, the stores can get a little wild and empty quickly. You may want to consider as much as possible, beat the rush by having these items on-hand:

You have done everything you could possibly do to secure your home, family, and pets so now it is time to pat yourself on the back for your preparedness, hope for the best, and relax.

Pinellas Park, FL – March 18, 2019 – Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, a worldwide leader known for its electronic/electrical assembly, wire harness assembly, custom control/display panels, power supply assembly, special test equipment, encapsulation/potting services, and other expertise, has been named a Winner of the 8th Annual Florida Companies to Watch.  The awards ceremony took place on Saturday, February 9 at the David A. Straz Jr. Center of the Performing Arts. With more than 300 attendees, awards were presented to the Top 50 Second Stage Companies in the state of Florida.

GrowFL is driven by one goal – to cultivate scalable second-stage growth companies across the state. Second-stage companies are the backbone of Florida’s economy and the definition of economic growth and prosperity. Second-stage companies are between $1 million and $50 million in revenue, with 10-99 employees. As the only statewide organization focused exclusively on second-stage and emerging second-stage growth companies, GrowFL’s philosophy is to identify, serve and celebrate these companies that have the best potential to contribute to Florida’s economy.

Companies were evaluated on community involvement, financial success, and ethical business practices. In a competitive category with over 500 applicants, Custom Manufacturing and Engineering was honored to receive the 8th Annual Florida Companies to Watch Awards. Dr. Nancy Crews, President and CEO of Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, received the award on stage and when asked how to inspire future entrepreneurs and said, “Utilize support organizations along the way and grow your network as wide as you can.”
 

You're almost there! It's nearly- or already Senior year and you're almost ready to pursue a career in your selected field! But there's one last thing you should definitely do before you move that tassel.

Networking, networking, networking! It is the key to moving up the corporate ladder that the majority of new graduates struggle with most. Internships are a great way to gain these new connections and expand the reach of your LinkedIn profile, which, in turn, gets more recruiters eyes on you for future opportunities.
​

Internships are a great opportunity to make friends. I joined CME with a group of three other interns, and it was amazing how we all became fast-friends in the shared experience of beginning to venture into our respective career paths. It helped me feel less anxious about starting my professional career, to talk with other interns who were feeling the same way as well. 
​

If you are still working towards your degree, doing and internship is a great way to take the information your learning in class and put it to practice in a true work environment. Another bonus is when you apply what you learn in class, your more likely to remember what your learning and will get better grades.

​Something else to consider is that while technical knowledge will help you have the right information, practical knowledge gives you experience to draw upon when making decisions in the field. That "gut" feeling isn't something you are born with, its cultivated from past experiences that help you recognize what the right path to take is.

Hard to swallow truth; Having a degree on your resume only gets your foot in the door.

You need something extra to beat out your competition in today’s market. Internships are a great way to gain experience, specific to your field, that you can proudly display on your resume. So, when your interviewer asks, "Why should we hire you", you are prepared to list field-related experiences that an employer can easily translate to the needs of their own company. 

Bonus points for completing an internship at a small business, where you are most likely going to wear many hats and get experience in a variety of field-related tasks. While internships at large companies can be a great foot-in-the-door to the specific company, they can be very specific and you might be pigeon-holed into one narrowly-defined job.
​

Check out our career page for internship positions you can apply to today in Tampa Bay FL.
 
Otherwise, you can search for internships through:

• Indeed 
• Glassdoor 
  
• Monster 
• LinkedIn 
• College Recruiter 
  

Another avenue you might want to explore is a career page specific to your university. Your university will likely have their own career search page. For example, I used USF Handshake to search for an internship, while getting my degree. If you're not sure what your university's career page is, contact your university's career services department to find out more information.

What do you think is the best reason to do an internship? Share your experience with internships below in the comments!