MxD, one of 17 U.S. advanced manufacturing institutes, released its top 10 achievements for 2024. MxD stands for manufacturing times digitalization. Introducing the top 10 in MxD’s tenth anniversary, Berardino Baratta, MxD CEO, said: “These successes, from membership growth and programs to industry reports and projects, are a testament to our collective efforts and commitment.”
1. MxD toasts a decade of innovation
Ten years after the White House first announced our formation, MxD leaders were joined by Senators Durbin and Duckworth of Illinois, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu, and supporters from across government and industry to celebrate MxD’s decade of growth and impact at an event in Washington, D.C.
A second celebration was held in conjunction with the Manufacturing x Digital Annual Summit in Chicago, where MxD welcomed over 400 guests, including members, partners and supporters. The event featured congratulatory remarks from Senator Durbin via video, MxD Board Chair Billy Bardin and Illinois Lt. Governor Stratton.
Read the full release.
2. DoD renews agreement with MxD
The Department of Defense has renewed MxD as a manufacturing innovation institute, awarding a five-year contract commitment.
This investment will enable MxD to continue supporting digital manufacturing, cybersecurity and workforce development solutions that help modernize U.S. manufacturing and strengthen our overall global competitiveness.
Read more about the agreement here.
3. Behind the firewall: Cybersecurity in manufacturing report
MxD’s “Behind the Firewall: Assessing Cyber Resilience in U.S. Manufacturing” report provides key insights into the current state of cybersecurity preparedness among manufacturers.
Manufacturers are prime targets for cyber-attacks, facing risks that threaten operations and supply chains. For small and medium-sized manufacturers, these challenges are even greater due to the costs and resources needed to implement effective cybersecurity measures.
Learn how decision-makers balance risk, cost, and the benefits of cybersecurity investment—from safeguarding operations to bolstering brand reputation.
4. Welcoming our newest members
MxD welcomed 68 new members in 2024.
Several of our members are currently demonstrating advanced manufacturing capabilities on MxD’s factory floor, including Cisco, Cognizant, DMG Mori, Google Cloud and TD SYNNEX.
Read more about our new Tier 1 and Tier 2 members and their collaboration with MxDÂ here.
5. Modernizing the organic industrial base
MxD has demonstrated an impact in helping the DoD modernize the Organic Industrial Base. With the successful implementation of digital solutions at Rock Island Arsenal and delivering assessments to Picatinny Arsenal, Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, and Watervliet Arsenal, we were awarded $6M from Defense Appropriations to create the Organic Industrial Base (OIB) Modernization Accelerated Program (OMAP). With these funds, we will continue to support the DoD by assessing the needs and piloting digital, cyber, and workforce development projects more rapidly. This will help reduce duplicate funding and expedite modernization across the OIB.
To learn more about the work MxD is doing for the OIB or how to get involved, email [email protected].
6. Workforce development programming
2024 was a busy year for the MxD Learn Team. From developing curriculum to broadening partnerships, the Learn team is teaching us all a few things this year. Here are just a few highlights from 2024:
- Our new MxD Learn Virtual Training Center launched with new asynchronous courses developed by MxD and in partnership with academic partners, including cybersecurity for operational technology, machine learning, data annotation, cybersecurity analytics, and more. An additional 20,000 free courses are available on a variety of subjects relevant to SMMs, including change management and basic digital skills.
- The CAPITAL program developed 20 courses across data, emerging technology, and cybersecurity in 2024. Courses launched on the virtual training center platform and are available to learners for free!
- MxD partnered with the Department of Defense Voluntary Education program to launch six featured career pathways on careerpathdecide.org, a tool utilized by 750 Education Advisors that advise military service members how to find careers that match their experience, education, and military occupation. The MxD career pathways in digital manufacturing and cybersecurity have been viewed more than 15,000 times, set as occupation goals by over 1,000 service members, and are expected to reach tens of thousands of service members who are exploring and pursuing civilian careers.
7. Share your voice through our member engagement survey
MxD’s annual member survey is still live! Five minutes of feedback will go a long way in helping MxD prioritize and improve its programs, projects, and initiatives.
8. MxD and the future of manufacturing
MxD launched at an important time. Digital manufacturing was poorly understood and under-resourced, and cybersecurity in manufacturing was even less of a priority.
Over 10 years, MxD has served as a critical resource in creating opportunities to advance U.S. manufacturing through digital modernization, workforce training, and cybersecurity efforts.
As MxD moves into the next decade, we continue to meet the moment. Building on what we have achieved, MxD is focusing on a set of strategic priorities at a national scale, including a goal to digitalize and secure 10,000 manufacturers and upskill a million manufacturing workers.
Read the full position paper on the work MxD has done over the last decade here.
9. Manufacturing x Digital Annual Summit
We recognized a decade of transformative work at our two-day Manufacturing x Digital Annual Summit. A capacity crowd of 200+ celebrated MxD’s accomplishments in furthering economic prosperity and national security by driving digital adoption in manufacturing. This year’s summit served as a collaborative platform for manufacturers to share best practices and build roadmaps for successful digitalization.
Focus areas of this year’s flagship event included:
- Emerging Technologies
- Cybersecurity
- Workforce Development
- Practical Applications
- Government Collaboration
Stay up to date on news about next year’s summit on the MxD xChange.
10. MxD event programming
In 2024, MxD hosted a series of programs designed to advance technology innovation, strengthen workforce capabilities, and foster collaboration across the manufacturing sector. Programs included:
- GenAI in Manufacturing
- Quantum Technologies in Manufacturing
- MBE & QIF Summit
- The Win-Win of Sustainability
Save the date
Our first programming event in 2025, scheduled for April 2, will explore metaverse AR/VR in manufacturing—What’s Real Now and What’s Ahead.
To learn more on how to get involved with MxD programming in 2025, visit the MxD xChange.
Bonus: Coming next year! MxD’s 2025 – 2027 strategic investment plan
Keep an eye out in the new year for the 2025-2027 strategic investment plan (SIP). The SIP provides MxD’s technology roadmap on how digital, cyber, supply chain and workforce development projects will help advance technology innovation and adoption in U.S. manufacturing.
Edited by Puja Mitra, WTWH Media, for Control Engineering, from an MxD news release.
