MT Magazine March/April 2024

MANUFACTURING MATTERS

THE ADDITIVE ISSUE

10

ADVOCACY

DOD Releases First-Ever Defense Industrial Base Strategy In January, the Department of Defense (DOD) released the National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS). A first of its kind, the 59-page NDIS focuses on creating a road map for how the DOD prioritizes and modernizes the U.S. industrial base to meet the challenging and changing global landscape. The strategy lays out four key areas critical to building a modernized defense: resilient supply chains, workforce readiness, flexible acquisition, and economic deterrence. The NDIS, which began in March 2023, is the product of months of meetings with stakeholders from across industry and government. A key component of the strategy is to continue this public-private collaboration. The DOD is expected to release the implementation plan before the end of March.

Advanced manufacturing, including additive technology, figures prominently in the NDIS. The DOD released its National Defense Strategy in 2002 and its Additive Manufacturing Strategy in 2021.

INTERNATIONAL

Speed Bumps to Global Adoption of Additive Additive manufacturing has seen nice global growth, primarily in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and defense industries. Prototyping, tooling, and part production have all been positively affected in certain applications. Yet some obstacles remain to accelerated global adoption, not the least of which is regulatory and standards compliance. Here we refer to industry-specific regulations, quality standards, certifications, and international trade and export controls. International collaboration and harmonization of regulatory frameworks and standards are needed if the global adoption of 3D printing technology is to reach its potential. Industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, standardization bodies, and policymakers must work together on a global level to develop clear guidelines, streamline certification processes, and promote best practices for the responsible use of additive manufacturing technology. Innovation and adoption will be throttled by the lack of these frameworks. Let’s not let that happen and keep our foot on the gas.

June 4-6, 2024 Pittsburgh

It’s Here — A Smarter Solution INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY, PEOPLE & KNOWLEDGE

EXHIBIT OR ATTEND IN 2024! YOUR SMART EXPERIENCE STARTS NOW 800.733.3976 smartmanufacturingexperience.com

SMX24 AMT & Barter Ads.indd 1

1/10/24 1:12 PM