About the AM Forward compact
(President Biden with AM Forward founding partner CEOs at launch event in Cincinnati, OH)
To increase resiliency in our supply chains, the Biden Administration joined several large iconic American companies to launch Additive Manufacturing Forward (AM Forward), a voluntary, public-private compact that will broaden 3D printing usage among U.S.-based small/medium sized suppliers.
The COVID pandemic and its resulting economic impact highlighted long-standing vulnerabilities in global supply chains across every major industry, at every tier of the industrial base. Challenges have been particularly acute among suppliers who fulfill low volume high mix part (LVHM) orders, already reeling from limitations on sources for castings and forgings. The result: widespread delays and shortages in LVHM parts, inflation and factory closures. These impacts affect key industries, including aviation and energy as well as automotive, medical device, and even important national security-related sectors.
ASTRO America is the convener of parties and the implementer of AM Forward, helping partner companies support their suppliers’ adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) also known as 3D printing technology, in shops, plants, and factories across the nation. Such a development has the potential to reduce LVHM part lead-times by 90 percent with novel design approaches and cost-saving models. Toward these aims, the large corporations are making clear commitments to increasing demand for additively produced (3D printed) parts, as well as providing training opportunities to suppliers’ workers, offering detailed technical assistance, and engaging in standards development.
(President Biden with AM Forward founding partner CEOs at launch event in Cincinnati, OH)
Leading U.S. corporations have signed letters of intent outlining their specific commitments.
Meet AM Forward Compact Partners (click on each logo below to view specific letter of commitment)
Why Additive Manufacturing (AM)?
AM is one of the advanced technologies changing the face of manufacturing.
It is broadly applicable across industrial sectors and has been identified as a foundational technology that, once deployed at scale, can greatly increase the agility, capacity, and resiliency of U.S. supply chains.
Additive technologies can reduce part lead times by as much as 90%, slash materials cost by 90%, and cut energy use in half as compared to forging, casting, and other legacy processes.
A laser melts metal powder, which cools to a solid. The laser melts in areas corresponding to a layer in a computer design.
Credit: Beamie Young\NIST
🛑 If you are a lead system integrator end-user, you should have at least one small/mediums sized supplier identified as a co-participant. If you are a small/medium sized supplier, you should have at least one lead system integrator designated as a co-participant ready to submit a letter. If you are an equipment producer, please note that AM Forward is focused on connecting the end-user or their designated supplier who might soon be ready to acquire an additive machine capability.
The AM Forward Compact is being managed by the Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America).
For more information on ASTRO America, visit www.astroa.org.