The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) Signs Agreement with Moog to Perform Co-Funded Work Supporting Adaptation of Blockchain Technology for Additive Manufacturing
Ann Arbor MI, April 2, 2018 – The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) have signed an 18 month contract to perform co-funded work in support of applying Moog’s VeriPart™ solution, adapting blockchain technology for additive manufacturing. This agreement will allow Moog’s VeriPart™ solution to be demonstrated via Microsoft Azure Blockchain. NCMS will provide project and contract management while leveraging this project to enhance Department of Defense’s (DoD) knowledge of blockchain technology. The project will allow DoD to evaluate blockchain adaptability to additive manufacturing and digital data supply chain processes for mission critical and obsolete parts in a secure environment. The full collaborating team is comprised of NCMS, Moog, Inc., Microsoft, Guardtime Federal, Identify3D and Siemens.
VeriPart™ is a distributed, blockchain-based transaction system that establishes a secure and traceable Smart Digital Supply Chain providing per-part provenance (pedigree) across a distribution network. Each transaction of record is recorded on a shared, distributed ledger where authorized parties can query transaction for authorization and traceability of provenance back to source requirements.
With the introduction of distributed manufacturing, the path from design engineering to manufacturing now includes a digital distribution phase. All digital exchanges must be protected from threats along the distribution channel. Threats for each transaction are evaluated and mitigations put in place as necessary based on the established level of trust among members on a given network along the distribution path. VeriPart™ establishes trust through blockchain’s immutable distributed ledger.
The objective of this project is to test and affirm the benefits of VeriPart™, 3D print an additively manufactured (AM) part, authenticate and have traceability of the part in a cyber-secure Blockchain-enabled ecosystem. The project will support: Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Keyport, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), USMC, NIST, NAVAIR, OSD-MPP/CIO, JSIG and the Rapid Tech Transition Office.
“Creating a point of use, time of need smart digital supply chain will reduce warfighter logistics tails, and empower maintenance and logistics organizations to improve readiness and lethality, VeriPart will give the DoD the tools to maintain a competitive edge in Industry 4.0,” said James Regenor, Business Unit Director, Transformative Technologies at Moog.
The end result of the collaboration will show the potential for future value creation moving parts from the digital world to the physical world through the use of a secure distributed platform and additive manufacturing technologies.
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About Moog
Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog’s high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, wind energy, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.moog.com.
About NCMS
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) is one of the nation’s largest cross-industry technology development organization, dedicated to improving the competitiveness and strength of the U.S. industrial base. As a member-based consortium, NCMS leverages its network of members and partners to research, develop, demonstrate and transition innovative technologies more efficiently, with less risk, and at a lower cost than going it alone. NCMS connects industry, government, and education to work together on technology development and engage in unique growth opportunities for their businesses. Visit our website at: www.ncms.org