AM Forward Program: Everything You Need To Know

Additive manufacturing (AM), referred to more colloquially as 3D printing, is a suite of technologies that build 3D-printed objects layer-by-layer. Using slicer software and 3D printer machines, additive manufacturing allows digital inputs (typically in the form of CAD files) to be converted into physical 3D objects, such as industrial parts.

Additive manufacturing technology is a methodical contrast to subtractive manufacturing, the latter of which produces the final result through the reduction of material, such as cutting away sections of an alloy to make a bolt or hinge.

3D printing can be employed to replace traditional manufacturing methods, or augment them with the following benefits:

• Manufacture parts one at a time, as needed
• Manufacture parts with complex geometries that can’t be made through traditional manufacturing methods
• Reduce the number of parts needed for an application
• Bring down the cost per unit of low-volume parts
• Reduce lead times for parts, by printing them on-demand at the precise point of need
• Circumvent logistical complications of shipping parts between locations

With advances in the capabilities of today’s additive manufacturing technologies, its benefits can extend to a diverse range of industries and uses. Plastics and metals alike can be 3D printed, embraced even by manufacturers in specialized, highly-regulated industries such as the aerospace sector.

Additive manufacturing is a technology native to Industry 4.0, which refers to the broader digitization of manufacturing with rapidly-growing technologies such as cloud connectivity, big data, smart sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced automation.

AM Forward is a federal program that was launched on May 6, 2022. As described by an official statement from the White House, AM Forward is “a voluntary compact between large, iconic manufacturers and their smaller U.S.-based suppliers.”

Currently, the program has five large manufacturers as its initial participants. Each of these large manufacturers will provide support for their smaller, domestically-based suppliers in the U.S., assisting in their adoption of additive manufacturing.

This will be achieved through each of the five participating large manufacturers publicly committing to the following:

• Purchasing parts made with additive manufacturing from their smaller, domestic suppliers
• Providing additive manufacturing training for the employees of their smaller, domestic suppliers
• Providing technical assistance to support the additive manufacturing adoption of their suppliers
• Contribute to the development of common standards and certification for additive manufacturing technologies and products

In response to global supply chain disruptions, the AM Forward program was launched to help build domestic supply chain resilience, while improving industrial competitiveness of small to medium-sized U.S.-based manufacturers. By building more resilient supply chains domestically and reducing reliance on international suppliers, the cost of goods manufactured will drop: this in turn will combat inflation rates.

The White House identified additive manufacturing as an instrumental technology to achieve this. Increased adoption of AM amongst small to mid-sized suppliers in the U.S. would build far more resilient supply chains for the domestic manufacturing ecosystem, while fostering innovation.

Therefore, AM Forward seeks to eliminate barriers to AM adoption for these suppliers. Amongst small to medium-sized suppliers in the U.S., main barriers to adoption include:

• uncertainty about demand of additively manufactured parts
• lack of resources to programmatically implement additive manufacturing at a meaningful scale

The AM Forward program, through the commitments of the five large manufacturers, addresses these barriers by providing assurance of demand along with technical assistance for implementing and scaling additive manufacturing operations.

AM Forward seeks to bring cutting-edge additive manufacturing capabilities to the partnering supplier businesses. This boosts the industrial competitiveness for them and the large manufacturers alike: a consistent inward flow of AM-produced parts from external suppliers will help the large manufacturers qualify and implement more AM-produced parts in the designs of their own projects.

Key goals outlined in the White House’s announcement of Additive Manufacturing Forward include:

• Building more innovative and resilient supply chains for domestic U.S. manufacturers, by investing in bringing additive capabilities to small and medium-sized companies
• Reducing barriers to adoption for innovative technologies like additive manufacturing, while fostering growth of Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing technologies
• Having more items both invented and manufactured within America, by investing in adoption of 3D printing technologies in regional manufacturing ecosystem

The initial participants in AM Forward are five large manufacturers — GE Aviation, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Siemens Energy — as well as their network of domestic, U.S.-based suppliers, which are small to medium-sized manufacturers.

Assisted by these five large manufacturers, the primary recipients of additive manufacturing technology will be their vast network of domestic U.S. suppliers, which are small to medium-sized businesses. The five large manufacturers rely upon these domestic suppliers for many of their critical supply chain activities.

Additionally, the Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) will be advising the program on technology, standards, and will ultimately serve as the program coordinator. Due to each large manufacturer’s breadth of activities and needs for AM-specific applications, many different types of AM equipment are likely to be utilized in the program.

The White House’s announcement of AM Forward states that any OEM can participate. Participation is voluntary, but requires a public commitment to support the adoption of industrial 3D printing for their suppliers.

As of the program’s launch, these are the stated public commitments from the initial large manufacturer participants (source: whitehouse.gov):

• GE Aviation: 50% of their requests for quotes for additively manufactured products will target competition between domestic SME suppliers. GE Aviation will also seek to source 30% of externally produced AM-built parts from domestic SME suppliers.
• Raytheon: They will help simplify and accelerate procurement process for AM parts; will involve SME manufacturers in over 50% of its requests for quotes on additively manufactured products.
• Siemens Energy: 20-40% of their externally-sourced additively manufactured parts will be purchased from domestic suppliers and partners. Siemens Energy will aid 10-20 domestic SME suppliers in improving AM capabilities and implementation. They will also train 10-20 domestic SME suppliers on best practices for post-processing and part inspection.
• Lockheed Martin: will work in conducting joint research programs with its domestic SME suppliers. Research will focus on improving additive manufacturing’s performance as an alternative to castings and forgings. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin will seek to foster the development of additive manufacturing talent for the workforce: through participation in university programs with coursework and apprenticeships.
• Honeywell: domestic SME suppliers will be targeted to compete on their request for quote packages for products and services that use additive manufacturing. This includes tooling, machinery, process development, and other products. They will also assist their domestic SME suppliers in part design, data generation, machine operation, post-processing, part inspection, and quality management.