Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities (CTMA) – a collaborative initiative teaming NCMS, its member companies and the Department of Defense (DoD) – held its 9th annual symposium April 7-9, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. The CTMA program, administered by the NCMS, is a unique DoD/Industry partnership designed to bring new technologies to the DoD maintenance community to increase warfighter readiness through increased weapon system reliability, improved maintenance procedures, and reduce costs.

The Process Substitution Methodology project for composite materials provided immediate benefit to the Department of Defense (DoD) war fighting capability during missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq.

Phase I of the Electrical Wiring Integrity Systems Program (EWIS) demonstrated the potential that can be realized by effective wire testing and maintenance. The EWIS results have resulted in success at each of the participant sites. However, as the expeditionary demand on military aircraft increases and the life cycle of these aircraft are extended, the need to effectively implement wiring integrity programs to maintain the health of these aircraft also increases.

NCMS Radio: Greg Kilchenstein "Materiel Readiness" (12:30) Subscribe to NCMS Radio on iTunes- search for NCMS.

ANN ARBOR, MI – April 16, 2008. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) today announced that its award winning Electrical Wire Integrity System (EWIS) project has resulted in a contract potentially worth over $60 million dollars to NCMS member Eclypse International Corporation of Corona, California. The EWIS project was funded through the NCMS Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities (CTMA) program which matches commercial technology solutions with the needs of the Department of Defense (DoD).

MDS-PRAD develops and applies protective coatings for gas turbine engines for aviation and ground-based applications.

Analex Corporation is a leading provider of mission-critical professional services to federal government clients.

This event was held to improve the Marine Corps materiel sustainment processes by identifying common maintenance issues and exploring potential technology solutions in use/development in other military services and in commercial industry.

Limited seats are still available for this event that brings together leading commercial companies and the Department of Defense (DoD) Maintenance & Repair facilities to work on common manufacturing issues.

A&P Technology manufactures braided reinforcements for the composite industry and other advanced technology applications.

Two CTMA projects, Smart Machines Pilot Project (SMPP) Phase II and OptiCAM, are near completion and will soon enter the Final Report creation stage.

ANN ARBOR, MI – February 13, 2008. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has formed a three-way partnership with Focus: HOPE of Detroit, MI and Immersive Engineering, Inc. of Bloomfield, MI to produce and distribute online training to enhance the skills of student machinists entering the U.S. metalworking industry.