Publication

Additive Manufacturing
2021

PATH TO 450 PARTS QUALIFIED FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

by Phil Burton; N. Joe Kott; Andrew Kruz; Ashley Batjer

Abstract

The United States Army is leveraging Advanced Manufacturing (AdvM) methods to solve both operational and tactical readiness gaps. AdvM includes not only Additive Manufacturing (AM), but also traditional manufacturing capabilities in the field and at Army production facilities. The Tank-Armaments and automotive Command (TACOM) and the Ground Vehicles Systems Center (GVSC) Materials-AdvM Branch have developed a strategy of five critical path key words oriented on three Lines of Effort (LOE) that enables a disciplined process to deliver final use qualified parts manufactured by the Organic Industrial Base (OIB) as an alternate source of supply that will improve readiness of TACOM’s combat and tactical wheeled fleets. Additionally, an alternate critical path has been developed to provide limited use parts for Battle Damage and Repair (BDAR).