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NCDMM/America Makes Awarded Workforce and Education Grant from the Department of Defense Sponsored by the Department of the Navy

November 13, 2018 | Categories: America Makes News

NCDMM and Partners, SME and TPMA, to Support the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP)

Blairsville, Pa. — November 13, 2018. The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), in partnership with SME—The Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA), proudly announces the award of one of four grants from the Department of Defense (DoD) sponsored by the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research under ONR award N00014-18-1-2881 in support of the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP). The goal of MEEP is to establish programs to better position the current and next-generation manufacturing workforce to produce military systems and components that assure technological superiority for the DoD.

“On behalf of all of us at NCDMM, SME, and TPMA, we are eager to get this project underway and help resolve the workforce and education issues that are impacting our national defense readiness,” said Ralph Resnick, NCDMM President and Chief Executive Officer. “We will be leveraging our manufacturing expertise, our broad knowledge of advanced manufacturing, and our trusted network of partners to solve the workforce training challenges currently facing the defense manufacturing supply chain. Only with a trained and skilled workforce can a strong domestic industrial base exist to meet critical defense needs.”

Added Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati, Director, Laboratories Office in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering), “Historically, the nation’s manufacturing base has allowed the United States to build the most complex and capable weapons systems in the world, allowing the military to meet the full spectrum of missions. Nurturing and growing the manufacturing capacity in the United States through MEEP will allow the United States to maintain its technological advantage and ignite the next generation of manufacturing talent.”

NCDMM, SME, and TPMA will develop and launch a series of new virtual courses, inclusive of additive manufacturing (AM) and related technologies, to broaden and extend the scope of the SME’s long-standing certificate programs. Additionally, NCDMM and SME will also rely on the expertise of America Makes and Tooling U-SME, respectively.

“America Makes acutely understands the importance of systematically and efficiently maturing additive manufacturing technologies for the adoption throughout the DoD supply chain,” said America Makes Executive Director Rob Gorham. “Additive manufacturing is integral to the future readiness of the DoD.”

America Makes, which is managed by the NCDMM, is the national accelerator for AM and the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in AM and 3DP technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation.

A division of SME, Tooling U-SME, the leading provider of manufacturing training solutions. Tooling U-SME delivers versatile, competency-based learning and development solutions to the manufacturing community, working with thousands of companies including more than half of all Fortune 500^® manufacturing companies, as well as 600 educational institutions across the country.

“It’s a really exciting time for the additive manufacturing industry,” said Josh Cramer, America Makes Education & Workforce Director. “The innovations are driving additive to new levels. Without a skilled workforce, however, we cannot fully leverage these innovations and breakthroughs. America Makes, together with our partners TPMA, SME, and Tooling U-SME, is committed to addressing the workforce skills gaps in education and training that are hindering additive’s fuller adoption. We need to ensure a skilled workforce is in place to support the DoD’s ongoing and future use of additive technologies.”

In addition to NCDMM and its partners, the other three grant awardees include Battelle Education, Clemson University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The awarded organizations and universities will receive a total of $5.78M over a three-year period to enhance or establish educational programs that support manufacturing engineering education.

About NCDMM

NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in manufacturing areas—both commercial and defense—continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Our experienced team specializes in identifying the needs, the players, the technologies, and processes to attain optimal solutions for our customers. We connect the dots. That’s the NCDMM methodology. NCDMM also manages the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3DP printing (3DP), America Makes and the V4 Institute. For additional information, visit the NCDMM at ncdmm.org.

About SME

SME connects manufacturing professionals, academia and communities, sharing knowledge and resources to build inspired, educated and prosperous manufacturers and enterprises. With more than 85 years of experience and expertise in events, media, membership, training and development, and also through an education foundation, SME is committed to promoting manufacturing technology, developing a skilled workforce and attracting future generations to advance manufacturing. Learn more at sme.org, follow @SME_MFG on Twitter or facebook.com/SMEmfg.

About Tooling U-SME

Tooling U-SME delivers versatile, competency-based learning and development solutions to the manufacturing community, working with thousands of companies including more than half of all Fortune 500^® manufacturing companies, as well as 600 educational institutions across the country. Tooling U-SME partners with customers to build high performers who help their companies drive quality, productivity, innovation, and employee satisfaction. Working directly with hundreds of high schools, community colleges, and universities, Tooling U-SME is also able to help prepare the next generation workforce by providing industry-driven curriculum. A division of SME, an organization that connects people to manufacturing solutions, Tooling U-SME can be found at toolingu.com, facebook.com/toolingu or follow @ToolingU on Twitter.

About Thomas P. Miller & Associates

Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA) is a full-service consulting firm, empowering organizations and communities through strategic partnerships and informed solutions to create positive, sustainable change. Established in 1989, TPMA has been providing consulting services throughout the United States, working with local and state governments, workforce investment boards, higher education institutions, and industry associations to integrate workforce and economic development strategies to enhance the economic value of educational institutions, companies, and communities. Visit tpma-inc.com for more information.