Regionalized Quality Control Centers for Mobilization of Distributed Additive Manufacturing

Early in the covid pandemic, decentralized and democratized AM of PPE was activated to alleviate supply chain failures that prevented normal suppliers of devices like face shields to meet the demands of the domestic health care system. Quality control testing, while critical to reducing risk by ensuring appropriate, safe, and reliable parts, is a time intensive and equipment intensive process. As a result, small manufacturers producing 3D printed parts outside their typical industry, or even volunteer hobbyist 3D printers producing parts, were unable to appropriately access sufficient quality control testing facilities or expertise, given the emergency activation of the regionalized production. IC3D proposes to address the access to appropriate quality control testing by piloting a regional AM quality control center. These regional centers will coordinate with local NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) organizations to establish quality control logistics and testing availability for small businesses and citizen-manufacturers during times of national emergency. During non-emergency times, these centers will provide commercial, fee-for-service outsourcing of quality control testing for small AM businesses, reducing a significant barrier to entry for small businesses into the medical supply market.