The Technologies Enabling the 3D Printing of Affordable Homes

In a previous article on the GovDesignHub, we sat down with Peter Evans, assistant professor of industrial design at Iowa State University, to discuss an exciting program that is exploring the use of 3D printing to reduce the cost of…

Is 3D Printing the Answer to America’s Affordable Housing Crisis?

While it’s a topic that many Americans might be reluctant to talk about, our country has a legitimate housing problem. Many Americans are forced to live in unsuitable housing because they can’t afford a home that’s more appropriate for their…

The US Air Force Looks to Increase Readiness with its New REACT Lab

When our troops are in a war, readiness means everything – it even impacts the lethality and survivability of the warfighter. But readiness extends beyond the actual warfighter to the tools, vehicles, and weapons systems that they’re deployed with. This…

Overcoming the Environment – How Craitor is Enabling 3D Printing at the Tactical Edge

In our last article on the GovDesignHub, we sat down with Eric Shnell, the CEO and Founder of Craitor, a company that’s working collaboratively with the U.S. Marine Corps to develop a 3D printer that can function at the very…

How 3D Printing Can Assist the Warfighter in the Field—Craitor Explains

Military vehicles and weapons systems operate in harsh, austere environments that constantly punish parts and create the need for maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, a weapon system or military vehicle in need of repair is one that can’t benefit the warfighter…

An Introduction to Product Lifecycle Management and Product Data Management

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Product Data Management (PDM) are two terms that you may not hear too often. Chances are you are already following these processes in some way or form but just are not calling them PLM or…

Is the Military Ready to Embrace Additive Manufacturing?

In our last article on the GoveDesignHub (GDH), we sat down with Dr. Samantha McBirney, an engineer at the RAND Corporation, to discuss the benefits the Department of Defense (DoD) would receive from embracing additive manufacturing. Ultimately, we concluded that…

How Additive Manufacturing Can Revolutionize Making Things for the Military

Generative design and additive manufacturing (AM), also commonly known as “3D printing,” have the capability to revolutionize how the military creates new parts for its equipment and new products for the warfighter. Additive manufacturing is widely seen as a technology…

Five Challenges Facing the Manufacturing Industry and How Digitization can Help

Anyone that has tried to purchase an automobile or electronic device in the past year will tell you that there are clear challenges facing our manufacturing and transportation/shipping industries. Supply chains have been strained as a result of the COVID…

Boeing Defense on the role advanced manufacturing is playing in the production of its WGS-11+ satellite

One of the most critical resources that almost every modern, warfighting capability relies on is connectivity. In austere terrains or off-grid environments where traditional, terrestrial networks do not exist, satellite connectivity has emerged as the primary solution that the U.S.…