U.S. Navy ManTech Program
The manufacturing centers of excellence (COEs) sponsored by the Navy ManTech Program provide a focal point for the development and transfer of new manufacturing processes and equipment in a cooperative environment with industry, academia, and DoD activities. The COEs:
- Develop and demonstrate manufacturing technology solutions for identified defense manufacturing issues.
- Serve as corporate residences of expertise in their particular technological areas.
- Provide consulting services to defense industrial activities and industry.
- Facilitate the transfer of developed manufacturing technology.
- Provide advice to the ManTech Program directors concerning program formulation.
Navy Centers of Excellence
The Center for Naval Metalworking (CNM) develops and deploys innovative metalworking and related manufacturing technologies to reduce the cost and time to build and repair key US Navy ships and weapons platforms, while also collaborating with other relevant manufacturing industries. CNM utilizes a proven appoach that blends the "Virtual Center" model with in-house technical expertise to ensure that project teams are comprised of the best providers from the industry to identify, develop, select, and execute 'metals-centric' projects that support ManTech program objectives and transition to industry. CNM is managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI) in Summerville, SC and partners with EWI, leveraging EWI's member-based organization that provides applied research, manufacturing support, and strategic services. Going forward, CNM conducts projects that focus on metals and advanced metallic materials, metal-based composites, metal materials manufacturing processes (e.g. additive manufacturing) and joinging techniques, coupled with process design control and advanced metrology and inspection technologies.
The Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC), established in 2000, is located in Anderson, SC and is operated by ATI dba SCRA Applied R&D. The CMTC is a virtual center, providing expertise from across the defense industrial base to address all Navy composites manufacturing technology needs.
CMTC forms teams of prime contractors, composites industry suppliers, and universities and has strong in-depth knowledge and experience in composites manufacturing technology for all modern DOD weapon systems. As part of CMTC’s organizational structure, all laboratories, facilities, and project labor resources are provided by project teams. This unique structure results in cost benefit to the Navy, with maximum funding going to project execution. CMTC’s current portfolio includes composites manufacturing projects for four major ship platforms and the Joint Strike Fighter.
The Electronics Manufacturing Productivity Facility (EMPF) was established in 1984 to aid the electronics industry in improving electronics manufacturing processes required in the manufacture of military systems. Today, the EMPF operates as a national electronics manufacturing COE focused on the development, application, and transfer of new electronics manufacturing technology by partnering with industry, academia, and government centers and laboratories to maximize available research capabilities at the lowest possible cost. The EMPF serves as a corporate residence of expertise in electronics manufacturing. The EMPF’s principal goals are to: improve responsiveness to the needs of DOD electronics systems; ensure that deliverables make a significant impact in the electronics manufacturing industry; facilitate the development and transition of technology to the factory floor; and expand the customer base to a national level.
The EMPF operates in a modern 36,000 square foot facility adjacent to the Philadelphia International Airport. The facility houses a demonstration factory containing the latest electronics manufacturing equipment, fully equipped classrooms for skill-based and professional level technical training, and an analytical laboratory for materials and environmental testing. The EMPF offers many electronics manufacturing services and capabilities to the U.S. Navy, DOD, and the U.S. electronics manufacturing industrial base. The EMPF’s resident technical staff consists of the nation’s leading electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, materials scientists, chemists, physicists, instructors, and technicians. The EMPF staff is dedicated to the advancement of environmentally safe electronics manufacturing processes, equipment, materials and practices; flexible electronics manufacturing technologies; and workforce competency in electronics manufacturing processes, equipment, materials and practices; flexible electronics manufacturing technologies; and workforce competency in advanced electronics manufacturing.
Since 1999, the Electro-Optics Center (EOC) has served as the ONR Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence for Electro-Optics. The EOC’s goal is to reduce acquisition costs, operational costs, and life-cycle costs while simultaneously improving mission capability of electro-optic military hardware and enabling transition of technology to industry and ultimately to the Warfighter. Since its inception, the EOC and the partner members of its Electro-Optics Alliance (EOA) have completed over 30 ManTech projects which have resulted in significant savings to the taxpayer. The purpose of the EOA is to advance DOD critical E-O Manufacturing Science and Technology and to promote U.S. preeminence in all areas of E-O. Alliance membership is available at no cost to all U.S. companies, government labs, and academic institutions involved in E-O technology. The EOA is committed to advancing the commercial viability of E-O technologies and promoting technology transfer to industry, as well as wide dissemination of new E-O related information.
The EOC, a proud part of The Pennsylvania State University, is a hybrid between the best components of a university and those of private industry. This relationship enables access to the university’s researchers and scientists, its state-of-the-art facilities, and leading-edge research. EOC staff, comprised primarily of former industry and DOD personnel, brings experience in exceeding sponsor and corporate expectations. Through the application of this hybrid model, the EOC is able to provide its sponsors with solutions that combine leading edge research with on-time and on-budget deliveries.
The Energetics Manufacturing Technology Center (EMTC), established in 1994 by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is Navy-operated and located at the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Indian Head Division (IHD), Indian Head, MD. The Indian Head Division serves as the focal point for the Center and as a renowned leader in energetics, provides a full spectrum of capabilities. These include energetics research, development, modeling and simulation, engineering, manufacturing technology, production, test and evaluation, and fleet / operations support.
Energetic materials (reactive chemicals), formulations (propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics), and subsystem components (fuzes, detonators, boosters, igniters, safe & arm devices) are critical to the performance and reliability of weapon systems and thus to our Nation’s defense. Applications include missile, rocket, and gun propulsion; stores or ordnance separation; warheads and munitions; obstacle and mine clearance; flares; decoys; fire suppression; and aircrew escape. Energetics, inherently dangerous, require special processes, equipment, facilities, environmental considerations, and safety precautions. At EMTC, this is kept in mind while ensuring the availability of safe, affordable, and quality products. The Center develops solutions to manufacturing problems unique to military system / subsystem acquisition and production requirements and the energetics industry. The Center does not own or operate any facilities and equipment but is essentially a virtual enterprise that involves government, industry, and academia in identifying requirements and executing projects. EMTC objectives are to identify weapon system and manufacturing base needs, develop and demonstrate the required manufacturing process technology solutions, and transition successful results.
The Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies (iMAST), established in 1995, coordinates Navy ManTech efforts at The Pennsylvania State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), one of seven U.S. Navy University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs). Located in State College, PA, iMAST’s primary objective is to address challenges related to Navy and Marine Corps weapon system platforms in the following technical areas: materials processing, laser processing, advanced composites, manufacturing systems, repair and sustainment, and complex systems monitoring. iMAST supports the Navy and Marine Corps systems commands, as well as PEOs and Navy laboratories.
RepTech applies new and emerging technologies to improve capabilities of Navy depots, shipyards, Marine Corps Logistics Bases, and lower level maintenance activities throughout the Fleet. RepTech cooperates and communicates with Navy COEs, the joint depot community, DOD industrial activities, industry, PEOs, and university laboratories.
The Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing (NSAM) Center develops advanced manufacturing technologies and deploys them in U.S. industrial facilities to improve manufacturing processes and ultimately reduce the cost and time required to build and repair Navy weapons platforms. The NSAM Center works closely with the Navy’s acquisition community and the defense industry to address manufacturing technology issues that negatively impact efficiency, with respect to both cost and cycle time. NSAM projects focus on improving construction and repair processes, such as optimizing production practices, increasing the use of robotic manufacturing methods, investigating modular/packaged units, improving accuracy control, eliminating inefficiencies in material usage, and the using advanced manufacturing tools and technologies across the full range of DOD platforms.
NSAM and its predecessor, the Center for Naval Shipbuilding Technology (CNST), have been operated and managed by SCRA Applied R&D in Charleston, SC since 2003. Looking forward, NSAM will continue to pursue technologies focused on improving the affordability of current Navy acquisition programs. New projects being considered will investigate using modern planning systems, automated fabrication technologies, supply chain improvements, streamlined unit/module flow to and within storage and construction areas, wireless data management applications, using 3D project models to support production and developing improved scheduling systems for new, aggressive build strategies. NSAM Web site: http://www.NSAMCenter.org.
The NMC was established in 1988 by the Navy to address Navy and other DoD metalworking technology needs. For more than 25 years, the Naval Metalworking Center (NMC) has supported the Navy's evolving needs by developing and transitioning innovative metalworking and manufacturing solutions. To support the Navy's mission to reduce total ownership cost, NMC works with governement and industry to develop and optimize metalworking and manufacturing processes and to implement to solutions in the US industrial base. Currently, NMC conducts ship and air projects that incorporate advanced metalworking technologies, direct digital manufacturing, joining technologies, manufacturing process optimization, prototype tool development, advanced metrology and inspection technologies, and coatings application and removal. NMC is operated by Concurrent Technologies Corporation, an independent noprofit applied scientific research and development professional services organization located in Johnstown, PA.