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Performance Update | January - March 2024

Performance Update header image for January to March 2024

Additive Manufacturing Adoption

  • Engagement with industry and regulatory authorities including the Department of Defense, GE Additive, and Boeing continues in support of a part production qualification whitepaper to assist industry with the development of qualified factories.
  • Alloy 718 was selected for further investigation and equivalency studies.
  • The curriculum launched based on current skills expressed by regional industry both through anindustry needs survey completed in spring 2023 and the qualitative follow-up through lab staff and internal beta-testing.
  • 57 suppliers to date are being evaluated for qualified factory audit beta testing.

Future Factory

  • Delivery, set up, and commissioning of the Okuma M6500 5axis and Genos M560 5-axis machines in the NIAR AMP facility
  • Floor foundation modifications in process for the Modig RigiMill gantry CNC machine. Set up expected to be complete in August 2024.
  • NIAR AMP hired a new Metrology focused instructor, with Senior Level Certification. Metrology curriculum in development for variations of GD&T, laser tracker, and CMM.
  • NIAR sponsored Smart Manufacturing Seminar event in March, with 74 industry, economic development, and workforce partners attending. Presentations included training availability for machining, metrology, additives, advanced fiber placement, and automation. Lab tours and One-on-one meetings spotlighted training classes.
  • WSU Tech continues installation of the Smart Innovation Factory, hardwiring into main server with integration into all their manufacturing training program systems.

HAMR (Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research)

  • Constructiondocuments were completed, reviewed and approved by the Kansas Office of Facilities and Property Management (OFPM).
  • EDA reviewed and approved construction documents prior ofbidding.
  • Bids were publicly posted on the Kansas Registerand in the OFPM plan room and on WSU purchasing website.
  • Pre-bid meeting was held on March13, 2024, on WSU campus.

Governance and Evaluation

  • The Chamber sponsored events to observe Black History and Women’s History months and continues to hold Bi-monthly DEI Advisory Committee meetings
  • Coalition representation at the BBR CoP Regions Workshop hosted by RTI in Washington DC. March 12-14, 2024.
  • South KS Coalition members regularly attend BBR CoP, TBED, SBA, and SSTI virtual meetings and workshops.
  • Collaborating with Brookings team on edits to the South KS Coalition report, expected to be published in May 2024.
  • The TAP and KART annual coalition advisory committee meetings will be in May and June.
  • WSU’s economist continues to collect economic and industry data for the public coalition dashboard.
  • WSU will host the first Regional BBR CoP in-person workshop, Sept. 10-12, 2024, for Midwest coalitions and other manufacturing coalitions.

Regional Workshopin Wichita, Kansas | September 10-12, 2024:

The EDA Building Better Regions CoP is excited to announce the first regional workshop, which will take place in Wichita, Kansas, on September 10-12, 2024, in partnership with the South Kansas Coalition.The workshops will be an opportunity to connect in person, hear about the work in South Kansas and otherregions, and learn from one another. All are invited.

Project Cumulative
Training (Sep. 2022 -Mar. 2024) # of Firms Served # of Clients Served # of Training Offerings Total Training Hours #Upcoming Training Scheduled
Additive Manufacturing 16 61 8 489 1 (July 10-12, 2024)
Automated Fiber Placement 31 141 8 3,449 1 (June 10-14, 2024)
Machining Training 3 89 3 794 2 (April 23-25, 2024, and June 2024)
Future Factory Training 1 10 1 60 3 (Summer K-12 STEM Camps)
Total (Cumulative To Date) 51 301 20 4,792 7

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