Youngstown State University has joined the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) to launch a major Industry 4.0 technology initiative

The university and its partners will leverage $10 million in funding to increase the number of small-to-midsize enterprises using advanced technologies, bolster critical areas of the defense manufacturing supply chain and create jobs.

The partnership will provide hundreds of businesses each year with support to remove barriers to adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, enabling a faster output of quality parts while expanding and strengthening the supply chain.

Those technologies include robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing.

NCDMM Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Randy Gilmore says implementation of Industry 4.0 practices is crucial for maintaining a strong Defense Industrial Base.

"NCDMM and America Makes are proud to be a part of the project team and to have the opportunity to play an essential role in this effort," Gilmore said.

The funding will also remove barriers of adopting Industry 4.0 technologies for small to medium sized organizations within the defense casting supply chain, enabling faster support of quality castings along with an expansion of the supply chain.

The project was made possible through competitive funding secured by a bipartisan Congressional coalition across Iowa and Ohio. 

UNI President, Mark Nook thanked multiple senators and representatives for their support of this initiative, including Valley Congressman Tim Ryan.

"From Youngstown, Ohio to Cedar Falls, Iowa, we are on the verge of of the next great age of manufacturing in America, but that only happens by making robust investments in our workforce to bring our supply chain back home," Ryan said.

YSU's Director of Advanced Manufacturing Research and Commercialization, Jackie Ruller says YSU is excited to be a part of this initiative.

"We are excited to be a part of this DLA partnership to help our region and the manufacturing community accelerate the transformation of its advanced manufacturing capabilities leveraging the YSU Excellence Training Center at Kohli Hall," Ruller said.

Direct one-on-one assistance will focus on developing a business strategy and the consequential support processes and training events such as webinars will be offered regularly to provide awareness of critical elements and the training necessary to integrate them in this operation.