Virginia Launches Additive Manufacturing Workshops to Strengthen Defense Supply Chain

The Reconfigure Virginia's Manufacturers for Modernization Program (Re-VAMMP) will provide independent machine shops with critical skills and knowledge to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies. The workshops, scheduled across four Virginia locations, will focus on metal additive manufacturing fundamentals and its pivotal role in contemporary manufacturing processes. Participants will learn how adopting these technologies can lower production costs, improve reliability, and expand their operational capabilities.

Neal Orringer, President of ASTRO America, emphasized the workshops' significance, noting that independent manufacturers are crucial to the defense manufacturing supply chain. The program aims to help these shops innovate and enhance their technological capabilities to meet evolving defense industry requirements. Guest speakers Griffin Keller and Kevin Nims from AUSTAL USA and the Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence will provide insights into assistance programs that can help manufacturers qualify for U.S. Navy supply chain opportunities.

The workshop series will be held in multiple Virginia locations: Norfolk on January 28, Richmond on January 30, Weyers Cave on February 18, and Roanoke on February 20. Each session will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering comprehensive training for local manufacturers. This collaborative effort between ASTRO America, GENEDGE, the Department of Defense, and Virginia Tech represents a strategic approach to strengthening Virginia's manufacturing ecosystem and maintaining the state's competitive edge in advanced manufacturing technologies.

The initiative matters because it addresses a critical vulnerability in the defense industrial base by modernizing small and medium-sized manufacturers that form essential links in military supply chains. By equipping these businesses with additive manufacturing capabilities, the program enhances national security resilience while creating economic opportunities for Virginia manufacturers. The workshops provide practical pathways for companies to transition from traditional manufacturing methods to advanced techniques that offer greater flexibility, reduced lead times, and improved part performance.

This modernization effort has broader implications for Virginia's economic development strategy, positioning the state as a leader in advanced manufacturing innovation. The program demonstrates how public-private partnerships can effectively bridge technology adoption gaps in critical industries. As defense requirements increasingly demand rapid prototyping and customized components, Virginia's investment in additive manufacturing workforce development ensures local manufacturers remain competitive for future contracts. The workshops serve as a model for other states seeking to strengthen their industrial bases through targeted technology training initiatives.