NCDMM Named a Multi-Award Winner of NAM Leadership Awards

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) was named a winner of multiple Manufacturing Leadership Awards for its manufacturing achievements by the National Association of Manufacturers. The NCDMM was recognized for three of its programs:

AMNOW

As a new, ongoing multi-phase program to support additive manufacturing (AM) technology insertion into the existing U.S. Army supply chain, AMNOW will enable strategic and tactical advantages and help increase the U.S. Army’s readiness and facilitate on-demand production of materials in support of warfighters and commanders on the battlefield.

Advanced Automation for Agile Aerospace Applications (A5)

The goal of the A5 program was to create a foundational open-source software framework for adaptive robotic solutions in aerospace manufacturing and sustainment. The A5 program successfully enabled a departure from traditional automation solutions that are tied directly to a specific component or aircraft and implemented a future state in which automation solutions adapt to part variations by using models that are combined with real-time sensor data to drive the automation process.

On-tool Inspection of Automated Composite Material Placement

This program was able to automate an intensive manual inspection process of a composite structure fabrication method called automated fiber placement (AFP) that is widely used by both military and commercial aerospace programs with great accuracy. The development of an on-tool inspection system achieved an impressive defect detection rate of up to 99.7% in real-time of aircraft components produced by AFP and improved overall high-speed AFP operations.

“It is an incredible honor for the NCDMM to be selected as the winner of not one, but three Manufacturing Leadership Awards from a highly competitive pool of nominees,” says Dean L. Bartles, Ph.D., FSME, FASME, NCDMM president and CEO. “Our team strives to continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. These winning programs are three distinct examples of the innovative manufacturing solutions we provide our customers. On behalf of all of us at NCDMM, we thank the National Association of Manufacturers for recognizing our contributions to the manufacturing industry.”

NCDMM is slated to be officially recognized at the virtual Manufacturing Leadership Award Gala on October 8. The Gala is a prelude to Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, which will be held virtually October 27-29. Rethink brings together manufacturing operations leaders for next-level networking and information exchange in three categories: thought leadership, organizational strategy and technology implementation best practices.

The Manufacturing Leadership Council developed the Manufacturing Leadership Awards to honor manufacturing companies and leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Founded in 2004, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards have honored hundreds of innovative manufacturing companies from around the world.

The Manufacturing Leadership Awards consist of 12 categories that align with the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s member-driven Critical Issues Agenda. Nine of the categories are for companies that undertake successful, high-impact projects. Three categories are for individuals whose achievements advance their companies or the manufacturing industry.