#United States #Additive Manufacturing #Troy, Michigan #US Army #Automation Alley

Automation Alley Secures $7.5 Million Task Order

Automation Alley, a prominent knowledge center for Industry 4.0 located in Michigan, has announced the receipt of a significant $7.5 million Phase I task order. This initiative, which falls under the Industrial Base Analysis Sustainment (IBAS) program, aims to advance secure distributed additive manufacturing (AM) processes for the U.S. Department of War. The contract is managed through the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).

Enhancing Defense Supply Chain Sustainment

The awarded contract aligns with the U.S. Army’s objectives to modernize its defense supply chain. Automation Alley will spearhead the development of a secure digital manufacturing environment, allowing the streaming of manufacturing instructions protected by intellectual property rights to a decentralized network of AM equipment. This approach is part of Automation Alley’s flagship initiative known as Project DIAMOnD, which is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of producing complex defense components on demand while ensuring data security and quality assurance.

Addressing Supply Chain Challenges

Traditional defense manufacturing has long been plagued by challenges such as supply chain disruptions, prolonged lead times, and a lack of domestic production capacity. The new task order aims to confront these hurdles by implementing a “streaming manufacturing” model. This method is similar to how digital media is licensed and streamed securely, but applied to the production of tangible components.

In the first phase of the project, several crucial technical aspects will be addressed. This includes developing a secure encrypted digital workflow architecture that complies with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards. Furthermore, the project will identify and validate weapon system components made of candidate polymers and metals, ultimately producing parts using validated additive manufacturing processes.

A core deliverable for this project is the demonstration of secure, end-to-end transfer of smart product recipes (SPRs) to decentralized manufacturers. Each part produced will be accompanied by complete digital quality assurance to ensure manufacturing standards are met.

Collaborative Approach to Innovation

This ambitious program will be executed through a collaboration with Markforged, a leader in industrial additive manufacturing systems, and Fraunhofer USA, a renowned applied research organization. The NCDMM, managing America Makes, serves as the prime contractor for the initiative. The partnership combines expertise in additive manufacturing technology, cybersecurity, and the validation of manufacturing processes, promising a program that can have a significant and measurable impact.

Tom Kelly, Executive Director and CEO of Automation Alley, expressed enthusiasm about the award, highlighting the extensive groundwork laid to create a platform and network that can cater to the Department of War’s critical manufacturing needs. “Phase I gives us the opportunity to demonstrate, in a tangible and rigorous way, that secure distributed additive manufacturing is not just feasible — it is ready,” he stated.

About Automation Alley

Automation Alley is recognized as Michigan's Digital Transformation Insight Center, boasting a foundation of over 4,000 members. The organization focuses on education, collaboration, and its Project DIAMOnD platform to assist manufacturers in navigating transformative technologies, ultimately strengthening both state and national manufacturing capabilities.

About NCDMM

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) is dedicated to providing innovative, collaborative manufacturing solutions to enhance the competitiveness of the nation’s workforce and economy. With expertise in both commercial and defense manufacturing, NCDMM continually innovates to advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Their team specializes in identifying needs and processes to deliver optimal solutions, thus connecting key components of the manufacturing landscape.

This new task order stands as a pivotal step toward redefining the future of defense manufacturing, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to secure and efficient production capabilities in a rapidly changing global landscape.