Washington –
Every year, DoD ManTech and the DoD Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) commemorate Manufacturing Month by inspiring and educating the public about American manufacturing - why it’s a critical part of the Nation’s defense strategy and how it strengthens and preserves a strong U.S. economy. Congress created the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program (DoD ManTech) nearly 70 years ago, recognizing the need to invest in maturing manufacturing technologies, and enhancing the skills and capabilities of the American industrial base, including the people who work within it.
To celebrate this year, the MIIs held a series of events to connect industries with students, educators, policymakers and anyone else who may be interested in learning more about the innovative technologies of today’s advanced manufacturing sector. With locations across the U.S., the events were engineered to inform the public not only about some of the remarkable technologies coming out of the U.S. industrial base, but to pique interest in careers that are mentally stimulating and financially rewarding – careers that incorporate new and emerging technologies using robotics, AI, bioengineering, photonics, additive manufacturing and other cutting-edge capabilities that support the warfighter and help the U.S. economy maintain its strategic edge.
America Makes kicked off the festivities early on Sept. 22 with industry member, Stratasys, to demonstrate the latest in additive manufacturing to students at Youngstown State University. Experience Stratasys Tour, in partnership with the Youngstown Business Incubator and YSU, was open to participants of all ages - from elementary schools to adult students and local manufacturers. The institute sponsored another additive manufacturing demonstration the next day in Columbus, Ohio with experts from industry members EOS and Ursa Major, and Ohio State University. Additive Manufacturing Xperience Day explored how metal additive manufacturing is driving innovation across industries. America Makes also held its first ever drone competition, Oct. 8-9, near Fort Bragg with North Carolina’s Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation.
LIFT celebrated Manufacturing Month with a live tour and hands-on activities for local high school students at their headquarters in Michigan. The Detroit facility is a technology hub for both advanced manufacturing and talent development, and a place where institute members come to learn, work and bring new technologies into the marketplace. LIFT also hosted a Manufacturing and Career Day at their facilities in Caguas, Puerto Rico, with a seminar designed specifically for students and young people interested in manufacturing and industrial careers. Participants also engaged in hands-on activities with robot programming and augmented reality welding.
In keeping with its research and development role in regenerative medicine, BioFabUSA sponsored a fundraiser to support Type I Diabetes research and awareness, Oct. 4, in Manchester, New Hampshire. BioFab sponsored several other events to commemorate Manufacturing Month including: Women in Manufacturing Summit in Chicago, Oct. 13; Manufacturing Month visit for Windham High School engineering students with New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), Oct. 15, at ARMi headquarters (Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute) and Merrimack Manufacturing; and a visit with tours of ARMi and Merrimack Manufacturing for students and teachers from Granite State Independent Living IMPACCT program, Oct. 22, to learn about careers in bio-fabrication and advanced manufacturing.
Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute hosted Pittsburgh Region Manufacturing Day, Oct. 3, at its Pennsylvania headquarters. Partnering for the fifth year with Carnegie Mellon University’s Manufacturing Futures Institute and the regional MEP, Catalyst Connection, ARM gave high school students the opportunity to learn about advanced manufacturing careers and experience automation technology up close. Regional universities, trade schools, manufacturers and robotics companies also took part in the event. Capping off Manufacturing Month, ARM hosted a free online workshop, Oct. 28, to discuss and explain robotics careers in advanced manufacturing.
October may have the designation of Manufacturing Month, but for DoD ManTech, every month is dedicated to driving innovation and expansion of advanced manufacturing across the U.S. industrial base. Advanced manufacturing plays a critical in the Nation’s security and its economic prosperity. It anticipates gaps in American manufacturing capabilities and invests in developing ground-breaking solutions to mitigate those deficiencies. Working with industry, academia and other government agencies, DoD ManTech guides and supports the American manufacturing sector in bringing those innovations up to scale, ensuring the warfighter is equipped with the most advanced technologies available.
The warfighter can’t have it, if we don’t make it!