To effectively mature and transition DoD manufacturing science and technology advances into production, DoD must have access to a robust and responsive U.S. industrial base which is often driven by advanced manufacturing technologies. The Manufacturing USA institutes are considered crucial and game-changing catalysts that are bringing together innovative ecosystems in various technology and market sectors critical to DoD and the nation.



Since 2012, DoD has invested $600 million directly in its Manufacturing USA institutes with the understanding that the initial federal investment included (1) core funding and (2) one-time, start-up funding to establish the institutes within a period of 5 to 7 years. As the institutes now begin to reach year five, DoD is evaluating the effectiveness of the institutes in fulfilling their goals and the best on-going roles for the federal government, including on-going funding options, to ensure optimal benefit to U.S. competitiveness. This report reviews the role of DoD's investment to date in establishing its eight institutes as public–private partnerships and its engagement with each institute after it has matured beyond the start-up period.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 DoD Manufacturing USA Institutes: Background and Study Design
2 Lessons Learned and Operating Changes to Consider
3 Alternate Public–Private Partnership Options
4 DoD Long-Term Manufacturing Institutes' Strategy: Business Model Options and Implications
5 Committee Findings and Recommendations
6 Follow-On Consensus Study
7 Afterword - Rationale for Continued Engagement with the Institutes
Appendixes
Appendix A: Statement of Task
Appendix B: Institutes' Offerings Value Proposition Rankings by Stakeholder
Appendix C: Summary of Potential Improvements to the DoD Institutes' Offerings
Appendix D: Summary of Potential Improvements Related to the DoD Institutes' Strategy Goals
Appendix E: Committee Member Biographical Information
Appendix F: Acronyms
Appendix G: Other Resource Documents
Appendix H: Workshop Agenda and Participant List