History
Photo of the assembly test bed featured on MxD’s Factory Floor.
Photo of the assembly test bed featured on MxD’s Factory Floor.
Advancing American Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the base of American competitiveness. In the early 2010s, as the nation grappled with how to pull itself out of the worst economic crisis in two generations, leaders from government, industry, and academia laid out a plan to advance the nation’s manufacturing sector.
Three federal agencies — Defense, Commerce, and Energy — would stand up a network of manufacturing institutes with the goal of developing new ideas, technology, and methods to strengthen American manufacturing.
Training a cadet for manufacturing workforce development.
Training a cadet for manufacturing workforce development.
Partnering with the Defense Department
MxD, previously called DMDII (Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute), is the second of the 16 institutes, known collectively as Manufacturing USA. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the organization $80 million in seed funding in 2014, following a national competition.
The City of Chicago marshalled support for the bid and, along with the State of Illinois, provided much of the funding for the build out of a vacant windows and doors factory, transforming the space into MxD’s offices, events and factory floor.
Since its founding, the institute has awarded more than $120 million to more than 85 research and development projects across 35 states. Further, about 12,000 guests visit each year for tours and meetings in a typical year.
Governor Pritzker addresses the crowd at the press conference announcing MxD and DoD’s contract renewal.
Governor Pritzker addresses the crowd at the press conference announcing MxD and DoD’s contract renewal.
Renewed Commitment
In recent years, MxD has broadened its focus from research and development to include projects that are much closer to implementation. For instance, Dow, Microsoft, ITAMCO, and two universities are teaming up to build a supply chain risk alert system that will warn manufacturers of delays caused by emergencies, weather, or natural disasters.
In February 2019, the DoD awarded MxD a new five-year contract of up to $60 million, with $10 million committed in 2019. In the years ahead, MxD intends to tackle some of the military’s most challenging manufacturing problems while also serving as a central hub for data on the sector’s competitiveness.
MxD’s History
2012
Manufacturing USA Created
Then-President Barack Obama announces the creation of a network of 14 advanced manufacturing institutes. The first of them, a pilot focused on 3-D printing in Youngstown, Ohio, opens.
2013
Chicago Bids
Under the leadership of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago competes against dozens of cities for an institute focused on digital manufacturing and design.
2014
Chicago Wins
The White House announces that the Pentagon will award MxD (then DMDII) $80 million in initial funding to stand up a digital manufacturing institute.
2014
Congress Passes Bipartisan Bill
Congress passes the bipartisan Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act, establishing a national office for the network of institutes and future Department of Commerce-led institutes.
2015
First Call for Project Ideas
The institute calls for research and development projects in the areas of cyber physical security, advanced manufacturing enterprise, intelligent machines, and advanced analysis.
2015
Facility Opens
The Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed building opens, featuring a 22,000-square-foot manufacturing floor, large event space, classrooms, offices, a cafe, and an open atrium.
2017
Foundational Workforce Projects
MxD partners with Coursera to release a “digital manufacturing 101” course online. It also partners with ManpowerGroup to define the manufacturing roles of the future.
2017
Membership Surpasses 300
Dow, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, and McKinsey become top-tier partners. McKinsey and Siemens open demonstration projects on the factory floor.
2018
Cybersecurity Center Launches
The institute announces federal funding for a new National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing with about $1 million in seed funding from the Defense Department.
2018
Rock Island Arsenal Partnership
The institute and the U.S. Army announce a partnership to speed production at Rock Island, the nation’s largest government-owned weapons manufacturer.
2019
Name Change; DoD Renews
DMDII becomes MxD (Manufacturing x Digital), and the U.S. Department of Defense renews its commitment to the institute, awarding $10 million in funding in 2019 and committing to four additional years of support.
2020
Pandemic Highlights National Needs
Early in COVID, MxD supports local production of face shields for area hospitals, then pivots to virtual programming and digging in on supply chain and other pressing national needs.