On 28 – 29 April, FRC East hosted a Technology Showcase sponsored by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) through its Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities program (CTMA).  The showcase brought leading technology companies into FRC East to see first hand the challenges our maintainers face in order to identify innovative commercial solutions.

The Technology Showcase opened with Col. Loch providing an overview of FRC East operations and Mr. Greg Kilchenstein from OSD’s Maintenance Policy and Programs office providing an overview of maintenance technology’s role in DoD’s overarching strategy and he outlined the Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities program as proven technology transition venue.  NCMS member companies were given a comprehensive tour of FRC East operations and facilities.  Next on the agenda were table top displays, strategically located throughout the depot to ensure easy access for all base personnel to see the technologies  The table top displays provided industry representatives a unique opportunity to learn about challenges faced directly by the maintainers.  The first day concluded with a networking event at the “The Pitt.”  The second day was dedicated to one-on-one industry presentations with base personnel regarding solutions with immediate potential for deployment at FRC East.

The Technology Showcase was a powerful example of how the CTMA Program fast tracks innovative technical solutions from private industry directly into the hands of DoD personnel to increase systems availability while reducing cost.

NCMS members displaying technology included DIT-MCO International, Aging Aircraft Consulting, LLC, Superior Controls, iMAST/ARL (Penn State), Stratasys, Eclypse International, Adapt Laser Systems, Automated Precision, Inc., Aerowing, Imaginestics, LLC, Spatial Integrated Systems, Inc.,  Spectro Inc., GSA Service Company,  POM Group, REI Systems, Inc., and Pendaran Inc.,

Three CTMA projects have been formed to immediately meet FRC East needs:

• Wiring Shop Modernization - upgrade the capability to build and test wiring harnesses, currently very labor and time intensive.
• Automated Robotic Blade Stripping System (ARBSS) - Provide a reliability upgrade and training.  In addition, assess the challenges for wider deployment of automated paint stripping technology.
• Large Area Inspection of Composite Parts- evaluate and identify improved methods for detecting damage to composite aircraft components.

The Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities (CTMA) Program is collaboration between the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, its member companies, and the Department of Defense (DoD).  Under an historic Cooperative Agreement between NCMS and the OSD Office for Maintenance Policy and Programs,, NCMS and its member companies co-sponsor technology development, deployment and validation with DoD organic maintenance activities.  The current focus is the use of maintenance related technologies to reduce the costs associated with maintenance and rebuild of weapons systems as an element of the overall DoD maintenance strategy.

By partnering with NCMS government services members, the organic DoD maintenance activities are able to quickly assess the benefits of new manufacturing technologies in their own facilities, working side-by-side with industry leaders solving manufacturing problems through collaboration.

NCMS is the largest cross-industry collaborative research and development consortium in North America, and is the only consortium in the U.S. devoted exclusively to maintenance technologies, processes and practices. NCMS has nearly 25 years of experience in the formation and management of complex, multi-partner collaborative R&D programs, and is backed by corporate members representing virtually every manufacturing sector.

The next Technology Showcase will be 8 – 9 June at the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany Maintenance Center in Albany, Georgia.

Please plan to participate in our next Technology Showcase.

DATE:            June 8-9, 2010

LOCATION:    Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany Maintenance Center, Albany, Georgia.

REGISTRATION

This is an exclusive opportunity for NCMS members to display technologies for managers, engineers, and artisans at the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany Maintenance Center, Albany, Georgia.

• Reverse Engineering capabilities 
• Corrosion Prevention technologies 
• Training 
• Data management 
• Fluid analysis for field and FARM applications 
• Automation Technologies 
• Technologies to reduce water usage 
• Technologies to reduce or reuse waste streams 
• Technologies that will reduce energy usage or provide renewable capabilities
• Embedded technologies/predictive maintenance capabilities 
• Advanced surface repair equipment
• Lasers 
• Upgraded CNC equipment 
• Plant equipment management tools (CFAMs) 
• Heat treating capabilities. 
• Hardening (Case), carburization, artificial aging of aluminum, stress relief/stabilization, annealing, etc.  

Please plan to participate in the third Technology Showcase to be held April 28-29, 2010.

This is an exclusive opportunity for NCMS members to display technologies for managers, engineers, and artisans at the Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) East Maintenance Center in Cherry Point, North Carolina. The first day of the event will be for technology displays followed by a day of follow-up meetings with FRC personnel on potential applications.

FRC East is currently interested in the following technologies:

• Cleaning
• Data Collection Management
• Non-Destructive Inspection
• Dimensional Measurement
• Stripping/Coating Removal
• Coating/Plating Technologies
• Direct Digital Manufacturing
• Surface Finishing
• Analysis
• Composites

For more information please contact:

NCMS Program Manager Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org (734) 995-7038. 

Please plan to participate in our third technology showcase to be held April 28-29, 2010. 

This is an exclusive opportunity for NCMS members to display technologies for managers, engineers, and artisans at the Fleet Readiness Center East Maintenance Center in Cherry Point, North Carolina.  The first day of the event will be for technology displays followed by a day of follow-up meetings with FRC personnel on potential applications.

For additional information please contact:

NCMS Program Manager Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org (734) 995-7038.

Please plan to participate in our third technology showcase to be held April 28-29, 2010.  This is a chance to bring your technologies to the attention of the managers, engineers, and artisans at the Fleet Readiness Center East maintenance center in Cherry Point, North Carolina. 

For additional information please contact:

NCMS Program Manager Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org (734) 995-7038.

NCMS made arrangements with the Department of Defense (DoD) for this technology showcase at the Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD). This unique opportunity to present innovative technology solutions and meet directly with maintenance personnel was available to NCMS members and invited guests.

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) is the largest, full-service electronics maintenance facility in DoD and employs over 5,700 workers.  TYAD’s mission is total sustainment, including design, manufacture, repair and overhaul of hundreds of electronic systems that include satellite terminals, radio and radar systems, telephones, electro-optics, night vision and anti-intrusion devices, airborne surveillance equipment, navigational instruments, electronic warfare and guidance and control systems for tactical missiles.

NCMS has made arrangements with the Department of Defense (DoD) to sponsor a technology showcase at the Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD). This unique opportunity to present innovative technology solutions and meet directly with maintenance personnel is only available to NCMS members.

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) is the largest, full-service electronics maintenance facility in DoD and employs over 5700 workers.. TYAD’s mission is total sustainment, including design, manufacture, repair and overhaul of hundreds of electronic systems that include satellite terminals, radio and radar systems, telephones, electro-optics, night vision and anti-intrusion devices, airborne surveillance equipment, navigational instruments, electronic warfare and guidance and control systems for tactical missiles.

The displays will be strategically located in Maintenance Building 1C offering the opportunity for Army personnel to visit with the various companies throughout the day. The event will conclude with a networking reception for depot personnel and participants.

Technology Showcase Web Site

For more information contact Debbie Lilu at debral@ncms.org or call (734) 995-7038.

NCMS recently held an exclusive technology event at the Barstow Marine Corp Logistics Base.  A dozen NCMS member companies displayed project technology throughout the base for maintenance personnel.  Maintenance Center Commander Colonel Dale Johnson III was pleased with the technology innovations highlighted during the event.

Project technologies on display included:

• Electrical Wire Integrity System (EWIS), a wiring technology quickly detects and locates wiring defects on a variety of cable and wire types.  EWIS has been recognized with Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award, which honors outstanding team performance to promote systematic process improvement and helps publicize best practices throughout the Air Force and the 2006 Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award which recognizes outstanding cooperative efforts on technology development between government, industry and academia.
• Kinetic Spray Metal Deposition a process which helps prevent corrosion and repair vehicle components.  This project won a 2007 Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award.
• Centralized Fleet Automated Management System (CFAMS) which reduces industrial vehicle maintenance costs, improving fleet mission readiness, increasing material handling productivity and the consequential velocity of critical warfighter supplies, and improving worker safety.  
• Handheld Fluid Analyzer a portable, hand-held analytical tools which provides a lab-quality assessment suitable for real-time in-field use, to help implement condition based maintenance on a wide variety of vehicles.

In addition to Barstow maintainers, Department of Defense personnel from the Albany Marine Corp Logistics Base (MCLB), The Tobyhanna Army Depot, The Defense Contract Management Analysis (DMCA) Industrial Analysis Center, and Office of the Secretary of Defense participated.

Exclusive NCMS Member Opportunity: Technology Showcase
Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base/Barstow, California- Wednesday, June 24, 2009

NCMS is holding an exclusive technology event for its member at the Barstow Marine Corp Logistics Base.

The Technology Showcase will feature table top displays highlighting CTMA project technologies located throughout the base to maximize access for military personnel.

A networking reception will immediately follow the Technology Showcase to promote further discussion between Marine Corps personnel and participants.

Please visit http://www.ncms.org/09Barstow/

or contact Debbie Lilu at debral@ncms.org (734) 995-7038 for additional information.