Technology Expose: Highlights from the 2016 Defense Maintenance Symposium
At the 2016 Defense Maintenance Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, key Department of Defense (DoD) and industry leaders discussed near-term issues for maintenance and weapon system sustainment and addressed mitigation strategies to meet present and future challenges. One of the highlights of this event was the Additive Manufacturing for Maintenance Operations (AMMO) Panel sponsored by DoD and the National Center of Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS). This panel discussed additive manufacturing capabilities supporting maintenance operations, engaging the wider maintenance community, and the challenges, issues, and potential strategies for expanding the use of additive processes to meet the future needs of the DoD. The talks ranged from accelerating additive manufacturing and shortening supply chains to improving readiness for essential parts.
Equally as exciting, there were six finalists from the DoD Maintenance Innovation Challenge who presented their available technologies, best business practices, and innovative maintenance processes to the maintenance community. The finalists were selected by an evaluation board comprised of maintenance technology subject matter experts from the Joint Technology Exchange Group and industry. This year’s winner was Thermal Wave Imaging – Thermographic Non- Destructive Inspection (NDI) Solutions for Every Scale. NDI of military aircraft is necessary for the detection of critical, sub-surface flaws that may compromise structural integrity.
NCMS, in partnership with the DoD, hosted a booth at the event where leading-edge technologies from NCMS member companies were showcased. The theme for the showcase,“CTMA is the On-Ramp to the Innovation Highway – Route 66”, exemplified NCMS’ proven approach to accelerating innovation for leading-edge technologies.
2016 PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
During the symposium, six-NCMS member companies had a unique opportunity to showcase their innovative technology solutions in the Route 66 booth via table top display and meet directly with senior DoD leadership and OSD.
Thermal Wave Imaging
Thermographic Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) Solutions for Every Scale
Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) of military aircraft is necessary for the detection of critical, sub-surface flaws which may compromise structural integrity.
Thermal Wave Imaging’s on-aircraft solutions span the range from VoyageIR Pro, a portable, hand-held system for smaller areas, to LASLAT, capable of automated, rapid inspection of large areas from a distance of 15 feet and provide results with sensitivity and detection capability comparable to traditional NDI methods.
Using these solutions can enhance the readiness of military aircraft by minimizing the time a vehicle spends in the depot and by reducing the possibility that the aircraft will suffer an unexpected failure during operation by ensuring the structural integrity of critical components.
Honeywell
Transform Your Operations with Honeywell VOCOLLECT™ Voice Solutions
Documenting inspection and maintenance checklists is typically inefficient because it forces technicians to enter their observations as a separate step from the inspection process. But no more.
VOCOLLECT voice technology’s “Hands-Free, Eyes-Free™” combined process helps elevate your documentation and compliance to levels never before attainable.
Using VOCOLLECT voice for inspections cuts down the outdated back-and-forth data entry and look-up time on a laptop, hand-held device, or paper form. Instead, simply speak commands and verbally input data findings directly into your system via a headset with a microphone while performing the inspection task.
Automated Precision Inc.
Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) for Repair, Maintenance & Reverse Engineering
In today’s world, standards in quality are becoming more demanding as tolerances are becoming increasingly more stringent. Users are looking for the most efficient solutions on the market when it comes to cost, accuracy, and the speed in which the inspection system can do the job.
Automated Precision’s iScanII+ hand-held probing and scanning system measures more efficiently and accurately than competing systems. Combined with API’s Radian laser tracker – iScanII+ performs Interferometer (IFM) based precision measurement traceable to the NIST standard. This technology can measure shiny and high-contrast surfaces in real-time without ever losing the sight-line to your tracker. iScanII+ is ideal for reverse engineering and inspection applications.
Syntech Systems Inc.
AIM Titanium – The World’s Most Secure Telematics Device
Automotive Information Module (AIM) Titanium is the only telematics device on the market utilizing a FIPS 140-2 validated encryption module (certificate #2395). Diagnostic trouble codes, vehicle identification number, and other vital vehicle data such as dash odometer, battery voltage, engine oil life remaining, engine hours, fuel economy, and many more parameters are collected by the AIM Titanium via the on-board diagnostics (OBD) port and reported to the fleet manager.
AIM Titanium reports aggressive driver behavior as well as an optional global positioning system (GPS) module for active and/or passive equipment tracking. AIM Titanium also guarantees your fuel is securely delivered to your equipment through the use of our patented passive fueling radio-frequency identification technology. AIM Titanium performs great for powered aircraft ground equipment and ground support equipment.
Navitas Systems
Lithium Batteries for Powering Forklifts to Speed Productivity Improvements in Material-Handling
Using lead acid batteries in forklifts was a necessary evil to which we long ago became accustomed – long periods to recharge; keeping extra batteries for multiple shifts; the driver downtime and capital expenditure cost of battery change equipment; and exposing maintenance personnel to hazardous sulfuric acid were some of the many problems.
Enter Starlifter™, the 21st century lithium battery solution which addresses all lead acid battery problems. This technology can move more material per hour, eliminating daily battery maintenance, eliminating battery changes during shift changes, and increasing driver productivity.
One Network Enterprises
MRO for Defense Agencies
Government organizations and commercial companies are achieving significant benefits and improved mission readiness through One Network’s cloudbased platform solutions. Today’s supply chain and logistics challenges are global and rely on multiple trading partners working together. Traditional single enterprise-centric solutions are unable to meet these needs. One Network’s Multi-Party, Multi-Echelon solution provides an easy-to-use platform, and delivers end-to-end visibility across your entire logistics supply chain. Benefits such as right part in the right place at the right time with significant reductions in inventory costs are only a few of the benefits.
TESTIMONIALS:
“On behalf of Automated Precision Inc. (API), I would like to thank you for including API in the NCMS/CTMA Technology Showcase during the 2016 Defense Maintenance Symposium. Overall, attendees from the DoD as well as exhibitors and other maintenance suppliers exhibiting at the symposium saw API equipment demonstrating NDI and reverse engineering capability firsthand. We had many depot visitors expressing desire for API to visit and demonstrate equipment in 2017. A new sensor technology from API featuring high-precision, high-accuracy 3D scanning was presented when key, high-ranking DoD representatives toured the NCMS booth.”
“Everyone was impressed with the technology and saw the basis of technology as potentially being next generation NDI supporting condition-based monitoring models. Several key contacts were established to do next step project planning with the support of CTMA. Overall, an excellent forum and
time well spent in Albuquerque.” —Joe Bioty, API
“Thermal Wave Imaging partnered with NCMS in mid-2016. In this short period, NCMS has quickly become a strong advocate within the DoD for Thermal Wave Imaging and our technologies. Participating in the CTMA booth at the 2016 DoD Maintenance Symposium provided us with the opportunity to showcase our technology at a prime booth location, which generated a significant amount of high-quality traffic. CTMA also arranged visits from members of DoD leadership, which gave us the opportunity to present our technology in one-on-one meetings. CTMA staff worked hard to help promote Thermal Wave Imaging both before and during the show and were instrumental in making our show a success.” —Maria Frendberg Beemer, Thermal Wave Imaging
“You should know that among the many visitors to the Starlifter display was Mr. Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He was captivated by the Starlifter video and did a double take and a smile during the video.” —Mil Ovan, Navitas Systems, President/CMO