Navy ManTech - Composites Manufacturing Center (CMC)

The Secretary of Defense established a Manufacturing Technology Program to further the national security objectives of Section 2501(a) of U. S. Code Title 10 – Armed Forces, through the development and application of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes that will reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of defense weapon systems and reduce manufacturing and repair cycle times across the life cycles of such systems.  The purpose of the program is to improve the manufacturing quality, productivity, technology, and practices of business and workers providing goods and services to the Department of Defense (DoD). DoD Directive 4200.15 implements the Manufacturing Technology Program, and it dictates that DoD is to rely on private sector investment and the “free enterprise” system to provide the manufacturing technology necessary to produce DoD material.  The Directive mandates ManTech investments are to be directed at improving the quality, productivity, technology, and practices of business and workers providing goods and services to the DoD. 

The Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program, operated out of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is currently focused on affordability improvements for specific key acquisition platforms and capability acceleration as defined in the Navy ManTech Investment Strategy. This strategy is reviewed and updated annually and approved by the Chief of Naval Research or designee. Key platforms currently targeted for affordability include:  the CVN 78 Class carrier; the DDG 51 Class destroyer; FFG(X) Class guided missile frigate; VIRGINIA Class submarine (VCS); COLUMBIA Class submarine (CLB); and the F-35 Lightening II aircraft (F-35).  ONR ManTech helps these Navy programs achieve their respective affordability goals by transitioning developed manufacturing technology which, when implemented, results in needed cost reduction or cost avoidance.  Capability acceleration is getting new technologies to the fleet faster, and issues addressed are  production-or manufacturing technology-related. Examples of current Capability Acceleration Thrust Areas include, (1) Advanced Radar and Electronic Warfare for Ships, (2) High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems, (3) Advanced Submarine Fabrication Technology, and (4) Fleet Repair Technology. 

Navy ManTech executes through Centers of Excellence using this key acquisition platform approach to develop cost reduction/avoidance platform portfolios and specific projects.  There are presently seven Navy ManTech Centers of Excellence (COEs), and they serve as focal points for the development and technology transfer of new and advanced manufacturing processes and technology in a cooperative environment with industry, academia, and the Naval Research Enterprise.  The COEs serve as corporate repositories of expertise in particular technological areas and collaborate with acquisition Program Executive Offices (PEOs) / Program Offices (POs) and relevant industry to identify and resolve manufacturing issues impacting the key Navy acquisition platforms.  The COEs develop and demonstrate manufacturing technology solutions for identified Navy manufacturing requirements, provide consulting services to naval industrial activities and industry, and facilitate the implementation of developed manufacturing technologies.