NCMS Project #: 142306
Problem: The use of living organisms and biological components in manufacturing processes is increasing across manufacturing sectors. However, biomanufacturing faces several bottlenecks and challenges to continued growth. The first and biggest gap of insufficient biomanufacturing capabilities and capacity have been emphasized by key stakeholders in every sector of the bioeconomy. Too often companies encounter a bottleneck when searching for available biomanufacturing facilities and trained workforce needed to expand production to market scale.
Benefit: Project tasks will serve as an example for the commercial industry to assess, prioritize, and transition emerging biotechnology and biomanufacturing methods to meet current commercial and defense biomanufacturing, maintenance, and sustainment gaps.
Solution/Approach: The intent of this initiative is to advance the state of the art of identifying, analyzing, and transitioning biotechnology and biomanufacturing initiatives to improve the performance and lifecycle of commercial and military systems while reducing maintenance and sustainment costs. Using various projects from the Tri-Service Biotechnology for a Resilient Supply Chain program as a surrogate, this initiative will explore new analytical tools, developmental processes, and qualification procedures to help assess, prioritize, and transition emerging biotechnology and biomanufacturing methods to meet current maintenance and sustainment gaps.
Impact on Warfighter:
- Improve availability/reliability of critical weapon systems
- Reduce product development costs
- Increase product and weapon system lifecycle
DOD Participation:
- U.S. Navy Research Lab
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Ground Vehicle Systems Center
Industry Participation:
- PM2 Strategies
- NCMS
Benefit Area(s):
- Cost savings
- Obsolescence
- Positive environmental impact
- Safety
Mx Focus Area:
- Business IT and Analytics
