LIFT Tapped to Study Modernizing Critical Army Equipment No Longer In Production

LIFT will study select components for future reverse or re-engineering utilizing alternate design, new advanced materials, and innovative manufacturing or joining methods

DETROIT – LIFT, the Detroit-based, Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute, today announced that it has contracted with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (CCDC GVSC), located at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, to conduct a re-engineering analysis of select critical parts, assemblies or subassemblies which are no longer in production.

The pieces of equipment are referred to as Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS). The selected components have an impending loss of manufacturer or a loss of suppliers for subcomponents, raw materials, and/or software. DMSMS issues arise due to the long service life of many military components. This longevity may result in the Original Equipment Manufacturer ceasing production of the component or serviceable sub-components, leaving the military without a source of additional parts or critical inventory.

LIFT will lead a team over the next three months to study some of the DMSMS components to determine which ones are candidates for future remanufacturing, reverse or re-engineering utilizing alternate design, 3D printing, new materials, new advanced manufacturing, or joining methods in order to improve operational availability.

By potentially re-engineering equipment using modern materials and manufacturing processes, LIFT will improve mission capability, lifecycle costs, fuel economy, equipment availability and readiness, and program timing.

“Our mission at LIFT is to connect materials, processes and systems to move innovations into industry and into the hands of the warfighter more quickly,” said Nigel Francis, chief executive officer and executive director, LIFT. “By working directly with the Army on DMSMS, we will be able to modernize those potentially obsolete, but still critical, pieces of equipment.”

Learn more about LIFT and its work at www.lift.technology.