NCDMM Partners with Kent State University

The Department of Defense (DoD) is boosting its digital engineering (DE) capabilities to strengthen the defense industrial base (DIB). A key focus is integrating digital twin technology. This process enhances traceability, supports early testing, ensures validation, facilitates model reuse, and strengthens stakeholder communication in complex component production.  

Given DE’s potential to augment manufacturing capabilities, collaboration is needed. In response, the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) partnered with Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering (CAE), Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), and the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) to establish Kent State’s Digital Engineering and Design Center for Space Applications (DEDC Space@Kent).

This initiative, funded through DoD’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program and led by its Innovation Capability and Modernization Office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, aims to create an integrated DE environment that boosts the capabilities of SMMs and develops a digital engineering talent infrastructure.

“There is an EWD element to this initiative, but it’s also about elevating the capabilities of regional manufacturers in resource-constrained communities, promoting the adoption of technology, and leveraging expertise from across the U.S. There is also the DoD mission to advance these manufacturers to a point where they can enter and support the DIB,” says Jamie White, senior director at NCDMM. 

“Lifecycle digital engineering and system design from concept to retirement are not traditionally included in engineering curricula,” says Dr. Joycelyn Harrison, associate dean at the College of Aeronautics and Engineering.  Additionally, the manufacturing sector faces an estimated workforce shortage of 4.6M job vacancies by 2028, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. 

The DEDC Space@Kent will offer undergraduates practical skills through year-long internships in DE. Students will gain hands-on experience in designing, developing, testing, and implementing aerospace systems with a focus on cybersecurity, aligned with systems engineering principles from the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory Cyber-Informed Engineering initiative. 

“We are strategically located in a region with strong congressional support, eager to see Ohio students trained in the latest, most in-demand areas. Also, we have companies, the military, NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and other entities in our region,” explains Dr. Harrison. “Thinking long term, the region will benefit as we engage with both large and small component developers in aerospace technology.

"Many smaller companies lack the necessary cybersecurity infrastructure required by the DoD for integration into larger systems," Harrison continues. "Our initiative will help these companies enhance their cybersecurity capabilities.”  

In conjunction with educational strategies, the project engages with industry to provide mutual benefits for regional businesses by building a workforce and creating pathways to careers in the manufacturing ecosystem. Through YBI—a business incubator supporting SMMs to adopt advanced technologies, located in Youngstown, OH, manufacturers receive assistance in adopting DE technologies to enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness.

As part of the initiative, YBI conducted assessments and walkthroughs to evaluate selected SMMs’ current practices, strengths, and areas for improvement, aiming to implement new efficiencies in collaboration with MAGNET, an organization providing consultation for SMMs across business and talent development. 

“We assessed their processes to identify effective practices and areas for improvement. Then, we present tailored solutions and connect them with appropriate solution providers to support project goals,” says Daniel Longo, Engineering Program Manager at YBI.  

Via the NCDMM’s DEDC Space@Kent initiative, it aims to guide the broader sector and uncover key opportunities for deeper analysis. The objective is to establish a comprehensive DE workforce infrastructure, supply chain, and EWD strategies that drive local economic growth and enhance national security. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.