The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA), based in Sewickley, Pa., announced Thursday it won a $1.975 million award with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a self-sustaining advanced manufacturing production facility.
Funded by the DoD Industrial Base Analysis & Sustainment (IBAS) Program’s National Imperative for Industrial Skills (NIIS) Initiative, the award will focus on workforce development through training and hands-on applications in a production environment, the company said. The TBGA will use its public-private partnership with the Allegheny County Airport Authority to make use of the Neighborhood 91 Advanced Manufacturing Production Campus, officials said.
TBGA said it will also leverage its experience and involvement in IBAS-funded workforce development investments in Texas, Connecticut, Michigan, and California to drive the transition to an existing U.S. advanced manufacturing production campus; develop a pilot program to address production for DoD supply chain issues; and create a blueprint for a resilient manufacturing ecosystem.
“We are very excited to be supporting the Department of Defense with this effort,” said TBGA Director of Government Programs, Andy Davis. “This Resilient Manufacturing Ecosystem award kicks off what we anticipate will be a multi-year effort, with Phase 1 focusing on initial planning, capacity expansion, and sample part demonstrations at Neighborhood 91. Long term, we are committed to delivering a comprehensive, advanced manufacturing solution encompassing the entire additive manufacturing value chain for the DoD.”
Key partners in the resilient manufacturing ecosystem are Texas A&M’s Engineering Experiment Station Secure America Institute, Catalyst Connection, and the Neighborhood 91 Industrial Base, including Wabtec, Cumberland Additive, Metal Powder Works, and HAMR Industries.