The Department of Defense is a vast organization with many resources available to assist our maintenance technology community with adopting, adapting and designing new capabilities. However, navigating this “Innovation Landscape” can be very difficult. For example, there may be resources or capabilities available within a DoD agency or Service that other Services or activities could benefit from, but they are unaware of their existence or do not know the correct process to utilize them. This forum will identify some of these valuable and available innovation resources, both within DoD and in supporting partnering activities, and describe how they may be utilized to assist the maintenance technology community.
Agenda
1300-1309: Welcome and Overview – Greg Kilchenstein (OSD-MPP)
1309-1310: Administrative Notes – Debbie Lilu (NCMS)
1310-1340: Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) – Nicholas Shaker (RRTO)
1340-1410: America Makes – “Lifecycle Sustainment and MAMLS” – Dave Siddle (America Makes)
1410-1450: Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities – Debbie Lilu (CTMA)
1450-1500: Wrap-Up
Minutes
Event: On 30 January 2018, the Joint Technology Exchange Group (JTEG), in coordination with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), hosted a virtual forum on “Innovation Venues”.
Purpose: The purpose of this forum was to exchange information on available innovation venues/resources, both within DoD and in supporting partnering activities, and describe how they may be utilized to assist the maintenance technology community.
Welcome: Greg Kilchenstein (OSD) welcomed everyone to the forum, thanked the presenters and all the listeners for their attendance, and briefly previewed the agenda. He also stated that the JTEG will conduct an additional “off-cycle” technology forum that will include presentations from the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and OSD ManTech who both had schedule conflicts for this forum.
Administrative: This was an open forum. The presentations, along with questions and answers, were conducted through Adobe Connect. A separate audio line was used. Approximately 35 participants from across DOD and industry joined in the forum.
Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) – Nicholas Shaker (RRTO) described the purpose of the RRTO is to develop prototypes to create a hedge against technical uncertainty, emerging capabilities, and unanticipated threats. He described the RRTO project selection process and identified the RRTO portfolios Emerging Capabilities Technology Development (ECTDs), and the more time-sensitive Quick Reaction Special Projects (QRSP). He also described some characteristics of RRTO projects and provided some example prototypes.
America Makes – “Lifecycle Sustainment and MAMLS” – Dave Siddle (America Makes) described the informational relationships in America Makes Digital Storefront and provided a view of the INSIGHT dashboard reports available. Dave also provided an overview of the Maturation of Advanced Manufacturing for Low-cost Sustainment (MAMLS) program, which is a unique partnership between government and industry to enable rapid transition of advanced manufacturing into AF sustainment operations and sustainment supply chains. Dave described team members, system applications, technologies, and MAMLS three program phases.
Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities (CTMA) – Greg Kilchenstein (OSD-MPP) and Debbie Lilu (CTMA) provided a combined overview of the CTMA program. Greg provided metrics of this collaborative program that serves to align DoD needs with available commercial capabilities and assists in leveraging industry cost-share. Debbie described the cooperative agreement as a streamlined contract vehicle between government and industry where NCMS acts as a neutral third party. Greg and Debbie closed with a discussion on CTMA awareness and outreach.
Closing Comments: Greg Kilchenstein thanked the presenters for their contributions and the audience for their participation. He suggested continuing the information exchange beyond the forum and the importance of teaming/partnership to the DoD maintenance community.
Action Items:
- Obtain “public release” versions of the presentations and post to the JTEG website. These meeting minutes, the Q&A, and those briefing slides approved for public release, will be posted on the JTEG website at https://jteg.ncms.org/ . (All presenters, LMI, NCMS)
Next JTEG Meeting: The next scheduled JTEG virtual forum is 27 February, 1:00 – 3:00 pm EST. The topic is “Technology Transition”.
POC this action is Ray Langlais, rlanglais@lmi.org , (571) 633-8019
Q&A
RRTO: Nicholas Shaker (RRTO)
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Q1. What is the process to propose sustainment transformative efforts through RRTO? Is there a website that outlines this process and provides the required proposal timing?
A1. If R&D, we can take a look at it. You can email me directly. It is also available at our public website for the RRTO Office. Proposals are submitted on a rolling basis. They are consolidated quarterly and reviewed at a meeting with government partners.
Q2. Which gov’t technical SME’s do you use to evaluate sustainment technology proposals? Would you consider using JTEG Principals?
A2. We have a good relationship with the Marine Corps Logistics Command and TRANSCOM. The proposal evaluations are FOUO, so only government are allowed to review. We could send to government folks if you have a list to add.
Q3. Can you provide any examples (beside the blockchain effort) where RRTO is supporting sustainment technology efforts?
A3. I’m sure we do. I do not happen to have a specific example. We have 80+ projects ongoing at any given time. I will send some examples to Greg Kilchenstein.
Q4. Do you include maintenance specific capabilities in your RRTO portfolio and demonstration venues?
A4. We certainly can. Some issues to consider: are they truly R&D or operations and maintenance? Our budget activity is limited to 3.0 (Advanced Technology Development). We are looking for new capabilities…leap ahead technology.
Q5. Where does RRTO efforts and Command Rapid Response efforts overlap? Is it in the need for funding, times without a solution or something else?
A5. Emerging threats and requirements. We are different from JIDO which looks at current threats and requirements. We look 3-5 years down the road.
America Makes – Lifecycle Sustainment and MAMLS: Dave Siddle (America Makes)
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Q1. How many of the current 20 projects are directed toward the “Value Chain” thrust area at America Makes?
A1. Actually, MAMLS is directed at the Value Chain. Beyond that, not many other projects. About 4 active that I can think of.
Q2. Does America Makes have a “dashboard” that depicts how we are progressing toward developing and transitioning key AM capabilities on the DoD-roadmap?
A2. I showed one. We do have quite a few different dashboards. I’m not certain of the exact one you ask for. They are designed by Incite.
Q3. Does America Makes still have available funds to invest in “value chain” projects to supplement funding brought by DoD and industry? If so, how does this community leverage those resources?
A3. We are a not-for-profit with no available internal funding. We work with DoD partners who provide the funding.
Q4. Do any DOD organizations participate in MAMLS outside of the USAF? (I saw an F-18)
A4. All the funding is through the USAF. We did go to FRC-East to look at applications (including the F-18), but we do not currently actively work with the Navy.
Q5. Is all the MAMLS generated data available to America Makes members?
A5. Not yet, but it will be. It undergoes a rigorous evaluation process before becoming available.
Q6. Is MAMLS tracking the progress of the USAF qualification and certification efforts for those parts developed in the MAMLS program?
A6. Yes. We do try to. We are still working on the MAMLS. None are going through qual and cert currently. One project with the Boeing, an avionics duct for the C-17, went through their own “air-worthiness” qual, but is not yet finalized.
Q7. How much industry cost share has MAMLS generated to compliment the $30M in USAF funding?
A7. Phase 1 & 2 are slightly below normal cost share levels. MAMLS is a 25% minimum for cost share, which we expect to be higher for Phases 1 & 2.
Q8: What is the plan on how to deal with intellectual property of the 3D drawings?
A8. Good question. We have a rigorous process. First, we have to identify ownership of the data. Some are very old and difficult to identify. We work with the owner during the process. Ownership does not change hands, yet, in MAMLS.
Q9: Will AM get more involved with cert and qual in the future phases, or will that remain the responsibility of other organizations (e.g. AFLMC, AFMC)?
A9. Currently, it is the responsibility of the USAF Life Cycle Management Center (LCMC). America Makes is heavily involved with AFLCMC on this work.
Q10: There are some people in some organizations that have a concern with documenting the approval of using AM in the tooling process, have you experienced that?
A10. We have had no trouble with solutions such as RE and 3D Scanning from the USAF. We are working with secondary tooling which does not have a big effect on secondary processing. The tools do require approval before use.
CTMA: Greg Kilchenstein & Debbie Lilu
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Q1. Would CTMA be able to serve as a DOD-wide tracker of Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory (NRTL) certifications? They are not required by industry, but are required for the government. Can CTMA serve as a clearinghouse for certificates received already?
A1. Where does that information reside now? Does NRTL have the information? I’m not sure it is applicable to the CTMA program.