Agenda
1300-1305: Welcome, Intro & Purpose – Steve McKee (OSD-MR)
1305-1309: Administrative Notes – Ray Langlais (LMI)
1309-1340: USAF RSO (AFLCMC) – Travis Grohoske (AFLCMC/RO) Presentation
1340-1400: NAVSEA 05 SBIR Program – Ryan Blondino (NAVSEA 05) Presentation
1400-1415: Technology Transition – Greg Kilchenstein (NCMS)
1415-1455: Technology Transition Success Stories – Lance Baughman (USMC (Ret)) and Jason Marshall (Ametec), Ken Anderson (U.S. Synaptics), and Matt Brennan (Siemens)
1455-1500: Wrap-Up – Steve McKee (OSD-MR)
Minutes
Event: On 26 October 2021, the Joint Technology Exchange Group (JTEG), in coordination with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), hosted a virtual forum on “Partnering with Industry”.
Purpose: The purpose of this forum was to discuss new AM capabilities being demonstrated or having the potential to be used in support of DoD sustainment operations. Presentations included an overview of an evaluation and vetting process, as well as descriptions of new AM technology from both DoD organizations and industry.
Welcome: Ray Langlais (OSD-MR) welcomed everyone to the forum and previewed the agenda. Steve McKee, Director, Enterprise Maintenance Technology, emphasized the important role that partnering with industry has in support of DoD sustainment operations. Gen (ret)
Administrative: This was an open forum. The presentations, along with questions and answers, were conducted through Adobe Connect. Two of the presentations were available online during the forum at the JTEG website: https://jteg.ncms.org/ Efforts continue to get all the presentations cleared to post. A separate audio line was used. We had 55 participants from across DOD, industry, and academia join in the forum.
USAF RSO (AFLCMC) – Travis Grohoske, AFLCMC/RO, provided an overview of the USAF Additive Manufacturing Eco-System to including promoting the adoption of AM for prototyping, re-manufacturing aids, legacy parts and sustainment, and new parts and capabilities. He described several application areas to include the C-130 Hercules, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and over 60 unique flying part numbers with the C-5 galaxy. Over 3200 total parts, metal and polymer, have been delivered, including 400 plus unique parts.
NAVSEA 05 SBIR Program – Ryan Blondino, NAVSEA 05, gave a presentation on the Navy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs which “buy research and development, not parts and services”. He described a three phase program: concept development and feasibility study, full research (R&D to Prototype), and commercialization. He then detailed a traditional solicitation schedule, the commercialization readiness program (CRP), data rights, and phase III requirements..
Technology Transition – Greg Kilchenstein, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), shared his “Key Tenets to Successful Industry/DOD Engagements” which focused on the need to be persistent, agile, and to engage key stakeholders and leadership early and often. He also recommended the development of a business case analysis and realistic technology roadmap. He then introduced three industry partner success stories who followed with their own lessons learned.
Bringing Oil Analysis to the Battlefield – Lance Baughman, USMC (Ret), and Jason Marshall ,AMETEK, talked about how the USMC was looking for industry partners for an expeditionary oil analysis solution and NCMS was able to successfully match available technology on the market, Expeditionary Fluid Analysis System (EFAS) from Spectro Scientific, with the USMC need. NCMS then also provided a contracting vehicle to rapidly integrate the technology to improve readiness and save the USMC sustainment dollars. They also noted that the ultimate success of the USMC EFAS program was due to USMC I&L’s active role and leadership support, especially at the “10-yard line”.
Successful Technology Transition – Ken Anderson, Universal Synaptics, provided a discussion on “Technology Transition Realities” to include entry barriers such as:
- “Not invented here”(Bureaucratic inertia of the DoD is real and extremely difficult to overcome for small innovative companies)
- A long process that requires numerous stakeholders
- DoD procures proven solutions, not concepts
- The technology integration “Valley of Death”.
He then described the following paths to success:
- Persistence: We have a proven solution set to a costly readiness problem – exhaustively studied and objectively proven to countless stakeholders over 12 years across the Mx Enterprise
- Constant professionalism, resilience, and vigilance
- Strategic business alignment – sense of shared purpose, narrative alignment
- Collaborative Partnerships such as NCMS / Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities (CTMA)
Working Together to Support the Warfighter – Matt Brennan, Siemens, discussed the successful collaboration of Siemens and NAVAIR through four phases of CTMA activities at three Fleet Readiness Centers, ultimately resulting in a production capability. Matt identified the following reasons for success:
- Proven technical solution and Team Partnership
- Perseverance and team collaboration to solve performance challenges at a massive scale
- Solid Program Management from NCMS and flexibility of the CTMA program
Q&A – A Q&A occurred after each briefer finished their presentation. Questions and answers will be posted on the JTEG website with these minutes.
Closing Comments: Steve McKee thanked the presenters and participants for their attendance and all the work being done to support the development and evaluation of new sustainment technology through industry partnerships.
Action Items:
- Obtain copies of the remaining presentations once they are approved to post to a public website, and post to the JTEG website at https://jteg.ncms.org/ .
Next JTEG Meeting: The next scheduled JTEG virtual forum is 30 November 2021, 1:00 – 3:00 pm EST. The topic is “Smart Depot”.
POC this action is Ray Langlais, rlanglais@lmi.org, (571) 633-8019
Q&A
USAF RSO (AFLCMC) – Travis Grohoske (AFLCMC/RO)
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Q1. What are some keys to successfully working with industry , in your experience?
A1. Working with experts to develop solutions to opportunities or shortfalls. Be open to communication.
Q2. Have you been able to leverage industry R&D resources in the execution of USAF AM?
A2. To a point. Industry specs and standards were not MRL 5-6, but as we get more into it, the standards are getting better.
Q3. What type of contracts are best suited to rapidly developing and certifying AM applications?
A3. I’m not on the contracting side.
Q4. What is the most effective and rapid way to down-select the best industry capabilities from the many potential offerings?
A4. What we saw in the industry from industry experts, and where the OEMs were going. Then we made a decision to standardize on a machine. We then guilt the procedures and requirements.
Q5. How do we respond to industry sentiment that AM applications can be quickly developed, but once it gets into DoD for certification, the process comes to a grinding halt?
A5. That is partly solved by getting requirements data. Now that we have most of that data and standards are being developed, we will be much quicker to accept.
Q6. Will these parts and parts like them end up on AGOURA?
A6. Our goal is to have a catalogue of parts for 3D printing whether organic, inorganic, or both. We are going through the approval process with the supply base.
NAVSEA 05 SBIR Program – Ryan Blondino (NAVSEA 05)
Q1. What type of funds are applied to SBIR Phase III?
A1. Any type / color of funding as long as it is aligned to the type of work.
Q2. What type of contracts does STTR and SBIR use to engage with industry? Who holds those vehicles?
A2. There is a wide variety, including firm-fixed price and basic ordering agreements (BOAs). They are coordinated in concert with the contracting shop at Lakehurst.
Q3. How do the programs search across the catalog of SBIR/STTR phase III awards to see what technologies are available?
A3. They use a variety of available resources to include the Navy SBIR search site, key word search finder, DTIC, etc.
Q4. How is the NAVSEA office working with other Services?
A4. Through a number of efforts to include out of cycle BOA calls, follow-on work regardless of where the origin, and we are always looking for collaborative opportunities.
Technology Transition – Greg Kilchenstein (NCMS)
No Questions
Technology Transition Success Stories – Lance Baughman (USMC (Ret)) and Jason Marshall (AMETEK)
Q1. Was there a key tipping point between demonstration and broad adoption?
A1. When we started getting results back in. The results showed the USMC needed to do something and do it quickly. Specifically, I’d say once the BCA came back.
Q2. How many systems are in the field for the USMC? Trying to understand the proliferation of this solution across the USMC.
A2. The USMC has purchased 15 Ter II and about 40 Tier I systems.
Technology Transition Success Stories – Ken Anderson (Universal Synaptics)
Q1. In 2011 when Universal Synaptics won the Maintenance Innovation Challenge (MIC), was intermittent fault detection (IFD) on any military service’s sustainment gaps list?
A1. In 2010 IFD wasn’t on anyone’s radar except one radar shop at Hill AFB. Through a series of demonstrations, meetings, and funding from the Reduction in Total Ownership Office, a BCA was performed that showed a potential savings of 5X the ROI. The results were presented to the MIC.
Q2. Do you go directly to any of the Combatant Commander J8 organizations to help the “Commander know what the Commander doesn’t know?”
A2. We have. Based on the capability this system provides and the problem it addresses, it is easy to reach on the phone and get invited to discuss and demonstrate the capability. Additionally, GAO recently wrote a report on IFD.
Technology Transition Success Stories – Matt Brennan (Siemens)
Q1. Would you say that the basis of your success started with small successes, proved the benefits, and grew according to potential future benefits?
A1. Absolutely. That is a common pattern with technology transition. I also have to reiterate that perseverance is key.