Since the expertise embodied in IACMI’s 150+ members spans technologies that have high relevance to the health care sector, IACMI is responding to the COVID-19 crisis through efforts of coordination and communication, manufacturing assistance, and post crisis recovery planning.

The coordination and impact of this organization, its partners, and the Manufacturing USA network collectively reflect the global scale, adaptability, scalability, and much-needed rapid response for the challenge. IACMI is leading recovery efforts through coordination and communication, manufacturing assistance, and post crisis recovery planning. Input on the effort has included physicians and other health care personnel providing key insights on needs, wants, and first-hand perspective on form, fit, and function of PPE. Priority ongoing response efforts include the following:

IACMI CTO Uday Vaidya led a University of Tennessee effort involving students, University labs, community members, and over 60 printers, to rapidly create more than 5,500 3d-printed frames for face shields to the State of Tennessee for its emergency response efforts.
Creation of a robust COVID-19 information page on the IACMI Website that includes current response efforts and resources for federal, state, and shared databases.
Ongoing collection of information from members and others at covid19response@iacmi.org
IACMI SURF in collaboration with LIFT donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to Detroit-area Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center in support of the fight against coronavirus .(IACMI SURF is managed and operated by Michigan State University)
Served as part of the 40+ person Purdue University team producing medical supplies and working to reinvent development processes that are better aligned with demand
Provide thought leadership and innovation connectivity to aid Dassault Systèmes in its innovation approach to design that can reduce product complexity and costs facilitating solutions such as 3d printing of spare parts and super-fast design for manufacturing of masks or ventilators.
Sharing information with other Manufacturing USA Institutes
Contributing to a shared database of resources and needs and promoting links to information repositories and medical device information at MXD and America Makes websites.
Convening ecosystem partners and providing input to key global technology companies that are pivoting their respective businesses to provide manufacturing assistance.
Collaborating with manufacturing partners to determine alternatives to N95 mask

For information on small business resources in IACMI partner states, as well as information on how IACMI members and partners are responding, please visit iacmi.org/covid19.

Do you have an idea for supporting the COVID-19 response, and need resources or partners to execute? Email covid19response@iacmi.org to discuss support in coordination.

Apprenticeship: Worth the Investment

April 16 at 2PM EST

The Apprenticeship Works initiative at the Robert C. Byrd Institute helps manufacturers establish registered apprenticeship programs in more than 20 occupations. Manufacturers receive access to related training and detailed on-the-job training competency checklists, plus a learning management system to track apprentices’ progress.

This initiative is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, making it affordable for manufacturers of any size. RCBI currently partners with manufacturers and schools in 18 states.

The webinar will feature Linn Yost, owner of Micro Machine Works, and Lucinda Curry, director of Apprenticeship Works.