MxD advances economic prosperity and national security by strengthening U.S. manufacturing competitiveness through technology innovation, workforce development, and cybersecurity preparedness. In partnership with the Department of Defense, we convene the industrial base to solve critical manufacturing challenges by accelerating digital adoption, empowering a skilled workforce, and modernizing supply chains. MxD is also the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing as designated by the DoD.
Founded in 2014, MxD, then called DMDII (Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute), is the second of the 18 institutes, known collectively as Manufacturing USA. Manufacturing USA is a network of regional institutes, each with a specialized technology focus. The institutes share one goal: to secure the future of manufacturing through innovation, collaboration, and education.
MxD and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) have an intrinsic partnership. As the founding member of MxD, the DoD co-invests in a wide-ranging portfolio of research, development, and demonstration projects. This partnership aims to strengthen the U.S. industrial base, enhance supply chain resilience, and promote global competitiveness in manufacturing to support the American military and defense modernization efforts.
The 22,000-square-foot MxD Factory Floor features demonstrations of digital manufacturing technologies, cybersecurity solutions and space for training the current and future workforce with the necessary skills to meet industry needs. Â
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Members, including Siemens, EY, DMG MORI and Betacom use the floor for experimentation and training on AI implementation, robotics, AR/VR, digital twin, 5G and other digital manufacturing technologies.
As the U.S. Department of Defense-designated National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, MxD develops programs and materials to protect supply chains from being disrupted by bad actors. Demands for better defenses are escalating, as manufacturing is the most targeted sector for cyber attacks for the fourth consecutive year, requiring manufacturers to be vigilant to safeguard their data.Â
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Our Cyber Resource Hub is a one-stop shop designed to keep manufacturers abreast of the latest cyber threats, technologies, and critical certification requirements like CMMC.Â
MxD Learn is MxD’s workforce development program, designed to build manufacturing talent pipelines starting as early as high school. More than 350,000 learners have engaged in MxD Learn programs.  Â
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In addition, the MxD Virtual Training Center (VTC) offers online courses spanning topics from artificial intelligence (AI) to cybersecurity. The VTC platform allows both users and content contributors to access educational materials and tools remotely and instantaneously, enabling rapid evolution and application of knowledge.Â
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In partnership with the ManpowerGroup, MxD Learn also released a series of Workforce Readiness Guides that outline job titles and descriptions for manufacturing roles of the future. These guides, including specific hiring guides for cybersecurity and electric vehicles, serve as a vital playbook for building an urgently needed workforce and are a must-read for manufacturing executives, HR departments, educators, and policy makers.Â
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The MxD Strategic Investment Plan is available to the public for download, with a more comprehensive version offered to MxD members.
Workforce Readiness Guides
