NCDMM Recognizes Partners for Project Contributions and Awards Commendation

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) recognizes its partners for their project contributions and role in multiple award commendations from the National Association of Manufacturers. NCDMM-led projects were recently announced as the winner of three 2020 Manufacturing Leadership Awards.

“NCDMM’s business methodology has always been one centered upon collaboration,” says Jim Fisher, NCDMM executive director of Advanced Manufacturing. “We not only draw upon our extensive in-house expertise, but also a vast partner network made of top industry leaders. In the spirit of both leadership and partnership, it’s only right that we shine the spotlight on our partners and recognize their significant contributions to these successful and award-winning projects.”

The three programs recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers are:

AMNOW: NCDMM, Catalyst Connection, The Barnes Global Advisors, the Office for Operational Excellence at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, LECS Energy LLC, Youngstown Business Incubator, Strongkey, Quotient Inc., and Advanced Engineering Solutions, with funding from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) – Aviation & Missile Center through the U.S. Army Manufacturing Science and Technology (MS&T) Division launched the AMNOW program to support additive manufacturing (AM) technology insertion into the existing U.S. Army supply chain. As an ongoing, multi-phase program AMNOW will enable significant 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): NCDMM, The Boeing Company, and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), with funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), created a foundational open-source software framework for adaptive robotic solutions in aerospace manufacturing and sustainment with the A5 program. By successfully enabling a departure from traditional automation solutions that are tied directly to a specific component or aircraft, the project team 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: NCDMM, Ingersoll Machine Tools, and Orbital ATK (acquired by Northrop Grumman), with funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and oversight from AFRL, the On-tool Inspection 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.

“On behalf of all of us at NCDMM, I extend our thanks and congratulations to our partners on these awarded programs for their role and contributions,” said Gary Fleegle, NCDMM executive vice president and chief operating officer. “The successful project outcomes, as well as the award citations, underscore the importance of teamwork and collaboration and what can be achieved together.”

The National Manufacturing Association awardees are slated to be officially recognized on October 8 at the virtual Manufacturing Leadership Award Gala on October 8. The Gala is a prelude to Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, which will also 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.