New Board Members Join Detroit’s National Advanced Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute

DETROIT – LIFT, the Department of Defense-supported national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, which is operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), today announced two new additions to its Board of Directors: Del Costy of Siemens and Harris Ng of Kearney.

Both Siemens and Kearney have been key members of LIFT over the last several years and have helped the institute grow into one of the state’s largest nonprofit organizations.

Costy currently serves as Managing Director, Americas for Siemens Digital Industries Software and President of Digital Industries (software and automation) in the U.S. In this role, Del is responsible for leading all Digital Industries U.S. Go-To-Market in addition to serving as the head of the Americas Zone Sales & Customer Success for Digital Industries Software.

His unique experience brings together the power of Siemens automation and software businesses, delivering solutions for agility, efficiency and new business value to companies across the U.S. and the Americas. This includes championing Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, including an installation in the LIFT headquarters, and its integrated software and application tools tailored to meet customers’ specific needs as they pursue digital transformation.

Ng is a Senior Partner at Kearney, a global management consulting firm, based in Detroit, and provides strategic consulting to automotive and industrial OEMs and suppliers. He has supported clients in areas such as business strategy, performance improvement, and operations. Recently, he has played a key role in helping clients transition to electric vehicles, leading transformative projects that have had a significant impact on the industry.

Ng specializes in electrification, mobility, product development, supply chain, and advanced manufacturing, including co-founding Kearney’s Digital Model Factory, which enables clients to adopt and scale advanced manufacturing technologies. One of Kearney’s Digital Model Factories is located at LIFT’s Detroit headquarters.

The ALMMII Board of Directors consists of experts with decades of experience in manufacturing in government, industry and academic organizations and provides oversight and guidance on the direction of the institute to drive American manufacturing into the future.

“Siemens joining the LIFT ecosystem was a win-win for both organizations and the partnership has shown tremendous benefits to both as we support manufacturers transition to a digital future,” said Costy. “I am looking forward to playing an even larger role in the institute’s growth and realization of its mission and vision.”

“The on-going collaborations between Kearney and LIFT are taking advanced manufacturing into new and exciting areas for the benefit of the Department of Defense and the nation,” said Ng. “It is an important partnership, and I am proud to take on this new role to guide LIFT towards an even brighter future.”

“Our leadership board represents the best of the best in industry and innovation,” said Becky Stewart, Chairwoman, ALMMII Board of Directors. “We are fortunate to have Del and Harris join our team as we continue to chart our path forward in advanced manufacturing.”

“Siemens and Kearney, have been and continue to be vitally important partners and innovators at LIFT, led by Del and Harris, respectively,” said Nigel Francis, CEO and Executive Director, LIFT. “We could not be more pleased with their becoming even more involved and ingrained through their Board involvement.”

LIFT, celebrating its 10th year as a Department of Defense national manufacturing innovation institute, is a Detroit-based nonprofit public-private partnership that is focused on Driving American Advanced Manufacturing Into the Future by connecting advanced materials, manufacturing processes, systems engineering, and talent development in support of our national economy and national security. The institute is also continuing to develop its national mandate, recently opening a facility in Puerto Rico while exploring other expansion opportunities across the country, including in Florida.

About LIFT
LIFT, operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is the Detroit-based, public-private partnership between the Department of Defense, industry, and academia, committed to the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies, and implementing talent development initiatives to better prepare the workforce today and in the future. LIFT funded in part by the Department of Defense with management through the Office of Naval Research. Visit https://lift.technology/ or follow on LinkedIn at LIFT or on Twitter @NewsFromLIFT to learn more.