A new report released by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), an organization funded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, named Project DIAMOnD, an initiative of Automation Alley in Troy, as an example of the types of projects that are essential to improving U.S. competitiveness in advanced manufacturing.
A 3-D printing (or additive manufacturing) network, Project DIAMOnD (which stands for distributed, independent, agile manufacturing on demand) is funded by Oakland County.
The SCSP’s “Action Plan for U.S. Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing” report identifies 3-D printing and additive manufacturing as a moonshot project –— an “audacious goal that can move the entire U.S. innovation ecosystem toward a position of competitive advantage.”
Additionally, Project DIAMOnD was cited as a “scalable model” for the recommendation to pursue a national-level, distributed production network for additive manufacturing focused on small and medium-sized manufacturers adoption.
The report recommends the U.S. Department of Defense adopt the Project DIAMOnD model as a central component of America’s national security, leaning on the U.S. supply chain to produce the parts as necessary.
“Our national security and economic independence are linked to our competitiveness in the manufacturing economy,” says Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “The next 10 years are critical for helping our small manufacturing firms bridge the divide between traditional and additive manufacturing.
“Project DIAMOnD is the initiative that is helping bridge this divide in Oakland County today and it’s a blueprint for how to facilitate increased competitiveness and innovation. Most importantly, it is key to the future health of our economy and the security of our nation.”
Project DIAMOnD was developed in October 2020 to accelerate digital transformation among Michigan manufacturers. In Phase I of the program, which was funded by $10 million from Oakland County and $2 million from Macomb County, Automation Alley distributed 300 3-D printers to small- and mid-size manufacturers at no cost, provided workforce training, and networked the printers to be used to fulfill emergency orders at scale.
In 2021, the network concept was validated, as it printed and shipped 8,000 tourniquet parts to fulfill a request from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The parts allowed for the assembling of more than 2,600 tourniquets to help those in need of medical assistance during the Russian assault on Ukraine.
“Project DIAMOnD is honored to be included in SCSP’s National Action Plan report as a moonshot advanced manufacturing initiative,” says Tom Kelly, executive director of Automation Alley. “This validates what we have known from the beginning, that 3-D printing continues to have a vast, untapped potential to revolutionize manufacturing across many sectors.
“Project DIAMOnD is an innovative public-private partnership model that enables the scaling and adoption of additive manufacturing for small and medium manufacturers.
“We are proud of the progress that Project DIAMOnD and its participants have made since the program was launched four years ago, and we believe there is potential to do so much more in the future.”
In 2023, Automation Alley and Oakland County announced Phase II of Project DIAMOnD, directing an additional $15 million of federal funds toward the purchase of 250 additional state-of-the-art 3D printers, the buildout of a marketplace and additional training support for participants in the program.
To learn more about Project DIAMOnD, including for small- or medium-sized manufacturers, visit projectdiamond.org .
The post Report: DoD Should Follow Automation Alley’s Project DIAMOnD Model appeared first on DBusiness Magazine .
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