- General Areas of Interest (AoI):
- Agile / Flexible Facilities - world class adaptive manufacturing facilities and capabilities that are scalable and integrate resources for rapid response to the Warfighter; integration of physical & virtual manufacturing processes and technologies that enable agile production lines for weapon system manufacturing. Agile facilities ensure production flexibility, improved capability to rapidly respond to engineering changes, and improve responses to variabilities of supply chain / quality. Agile facilities provide capability to produce multiple weapon components on a single production line at a single location for improved quality, reliability, and safety with augmented process control and monitoring at a reduced operational cost. Agile facilities also include flexible, scalable, tailorable maintenance facilities, able to flex to the unique needs of maintenance operations.
- Manufacturing / Maintenance Digital Enterprise Technologies Ability to create end-to-end visibility across the maintenance activity or depot facility to increase production volume and ensure quality control. Real-time monitoring technologies across processes and manufacturing lines that unlocks the data needed to control costs and improve throughput. Adoption of data driven manufacturing and advanced analytics to troubleshoot problems, perform root cause analysis, improve product quality, update repair procedures, and control per-unit costs. The digital enterprise is likely augmented with automation software and technology to include the internet of things, cloud-based computing, artificial intelligence, operating technology communications, and mixed reality to drive new levels of productivity.
- Advanced Manufacturing - enhancing the speed, build envelope, accuracy, finish, resolution of the processes and scaling; Agile Manufacturing, Hybrid Manufacturing Cells, Advanced Robotics, Point of Need Agile Manufacturing Kits, Human-machine interfaces, integrated control systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning coupled with real-time process monitoring to perform predictive maintenance and scheduling, reduce reject rates, improve Performance to Promise (P2P), and enhance the safety and performance of machine tools and operations. Additionally, technologies could include advanced component scanning capabilities with direct connections to manufacturing sources. Army, Federal, Industry, Academia and International partners are exploring many convergent manufacturing technologies that have direct applications to future U.S. Army / OIB missions. These manufacturing innovations have the potential to revolutionize U.S Army OIB in the near, mid and far term.
- Model Based / Digital Twin - With model-based / digital twin technologies, planners, engineers, and sustainment experts can make predictions to foresee maintenance issues and improve production and maintenance performance. Digital twins and modeling technologies can be used to manage functional assets like manufacturing machinery, parts, plants, and facilities. Within the digital twin / model-based frameworks, components and process management can be greatly simplified via the addition of analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), digital planning, and advanced visualization, to include visual engineering analysis and technical manual requirements.
- Industrial and Maintenance Automation - Automation can be defined as an automatic control measure that uses feedback loops (input) from sensors, cameras, encoders, lasers, and probes to control (output) a process, mechanism, or system. Automation is achieved by various means including mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic devices, and computers, usually in combination. The benefit of automation includes labor savings, reducing waste, savings in electricity costs, savings in material costs, and improvements to quality, accuracy, and precision. Opportunities for automation could be robotic, painting, welding, pick and sort for warehousing, and may include tolerance-related manufacturing verification.
- Advanced Analytics - the autonomous or semi-autonomous examination of data or content
using sophisticated techniques and tools, typically beyond those of traditional preventive maintenance, process control and business intelligence, to discover deeper insights, make predictions, or generate recommendations. Advanced analytic techniques include those such as data/text mining, machine learning, pattern matching, forecasting, visualization, semantic analysis, network and cluster analysis, multivariate statistics, graph analysis, simulation, and complex event processing.
- Technology, Tools, and Programs that Support Sustainment Workforce Development innovative talent management programs and activities to build a skilled, dynamic, and well-trained / equipped sustainment workforce base capable of operating in an environment of convergent manufacturing, advance manufacturing, agile/flexible facilities, digital enterprise, model based/digital twin technologies, automation, and advanced analytics or other AoIs / Army / AMC priorities identified by the Government or that come to fruition as a result of this CSO.
- Workplace / Workforce Health and Safety technologies that enable safe and sustainable workplace, maintenance, and industrial operations, to include improvements to current technology, chemicals, and related processes that improve health, safety, and environmental concerns.
(9) Energy,Environmental & Utility Innovation technologies that reduce carbon / greenhouse gas emissions / fossil fuel use (e.g., vehicles, facilities, power generation); increase infrastructure resiliency; mitigate single points of failure; provide effective, redundant utility monitoring, control, and distribution; maximize utility capacity to meet mission black start requirements and mitigate natural and man-made risks (e.g., generators, microgrids, smart grids) to operations.
(10) Platform, Fleet, and Enterprise Decision-Making Tools innovative decision-enabling
tools and related technologies capable of leveraging databases and vast amounts of stored
information to inform maintenance decisions across fleets (aviation and missile). Technologies
should be scalable, from platform to enterprise level, and provide actionable information to
leaders and action officers.
.
(11) Supply Chain Technology / Risk Management Capabilities technologies and risk
management frameworks that provide decision making displays to inform senior leader supply-
chain investment and risk management decisions.
(12) Maintenance and Manufacturing Tools, Technology, and Capabilities innovative
tooling and process technologies that increase production throughput, enable flexible production-
capabilities, reduce worker safety risks and time burdens, and drive quality outputs.
(13) Care of Supplies in Storage (COSIS) / Equipment ISO Readiness Technologies and processes that enable safe, sustainable maintenance, and industrial operations, via identification and mitigation of package degradation so serviceable and unserviceable repairable items in storage do not deteriorate and are ready to utilize when needed. Technologies and processes will facilitate COSIS inspection and remediation actions at both sustainment and field levels of maintenance. Technology and process applications may include inspection, testing, exercising and package preservation methods that optimize the time needed to replace or repair unserviceable items. Applications and technologies may vary, based on the type of material, packaging methods, local weather, and storage facilities. This AoI works to ensure supplies in storage receive maximum protection from pests and the environment (including corrosion) and establishes controls to ensure supplies and equipment are maintained in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
(14) Operational Security Technologies Cybersecurity hardware, software, and service solutions unique to the protection of operation technology (e.g., Industrial Control Systems, Manufacturing Systems, Production Systems). These technologies uniquely implement cybersecurity for operational technologies with emphasis on safety and system functionality (e.g., system availability and integrity) within an industrial environment.
