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Revolutionizing manufacturing excellence with the Digital Thread Lab to propel digital manufacturing skills forward within the defense industry supply base.
(East Hartford, Conn.) – The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) announced today the opening of their Talent & Training (TnT) Accelerator that will contain its new Digital Thread Lab (DTL), a partnership with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Industrial Base Policy (IBP) Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) office to provide manufacturers with critical hands-on technical training to fully leverage data-driven digital capabilities and improve the cost-effectiveness and responsiveness of commercial production by the supply chain to meet DoD needs.
The TnT Accelerator at CCAT hosts the new DTL and a range of training programs to support regional industrial growth and technology adoption. It empowers individuals to adapt, seize opportunities, and enhance their career outlook. By developing essential talent, it fosters industry resilience and supports economic development goals nationally.
The Digital Thread Lab, which sits at the heart of the TnT Accelerator and is located at CCAT’s corporate headquarters in East Hartford, Connecticut, will advance digital thread and model-based definition (MBD) adoption and practice in Connecticut and the northeast region.
"THIS TALENT & TRAINING ACCELERATOR IS AT THE APEX OF EXPERIENTIAL TECHNICAL TRAINING AND IS THE CULMINATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE MANUFACTURING ECOSYSTEM." RON ANGELO, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CCAT
“By listening and responding to the needs of industry, particularly our small and medium-sized manufacturers, we developed and activated this state-of-the-art facility, integrating digital technology advancement with technical training to address distinct challenges. As a nationally designated hub for Digital Thread Training, it emphasizes CCAT’s mission to secure a resilient manufacturing industrial base and position Connecticut at the epicenter for applied research, innovation, and training,” said Angelo.
The DTL includes a 12-seat state-of-the-art digital computing classroom and an Automation Nexus where participants will be trained in advanced manufacturing, quality inspection, vision, and automation technologies. An additional 9-seat digital computing training space is available in the TnT Accelerator’s newly renovated Digital Training Booster. Digital meeting space is available in the newly renovated Talent Launchpad.
“DIGITAL THREAD AND MODEL-BASED DEFINITION ARE DISCIPLINES AND PRACTICES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SETTING YOUR COMPANY UP FOR SUCCESS." JACKIE GAROFANO, PH.D., CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, CCAT
"By leveraging these tools, companies can significantly enhance efficiencies in their manufacturing processes. We're shifting human capital into more strategic roles as we utilize MBD workflows to streamline design and development within a comprehensive single source of truth. This approach guides products seamlessly through their manufacturing lifecycle, ensuring consistency and quality at every stage," said Garofano.
As highlighted by a 2022 McKinsey & Company study, the successful integration of digital technologies in manufacturing yields remarkable results. Across sectors, manufacturers experience substantial reductions in machine downtime (30-50%), increased throughput (10-30%), enhanced labor productivity (15-30%), and an impressive 85% improvement in forecasting accuracy. With the inauguration of our Digital Thread Lab, we're poised to translate these findings into tangible outcomes, empowering industrial enterprises to harness the full potential of digital innovation.
CCAT is partnering with Siemens, SolidWorks, MasterCam, Capvidia, Hexagon, PolyWorks, M3DI and other technology providers to equip the lab with digital tool sets to enable MBD workflows through product design, manufacturing, inspection and supply chain. Anyone who is currently employed in the manufacturing industry and meets eligibility requirements can participate in its courses and certifications, although the focus of many courses is on upskilling technicians, programmers, and engineers across the design, manufacturing, and quality functions.
"EMPOWERING YOUR WORKFORCE WITH DIGITAL THREAD SKILLS AND PROFICIENCY TODAY POSITIONS YOUR COMPANY FOR READINESS AND COMPETITIVENESS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OEM TRANSITION TO THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNICAL DATA PACKAGES AND MBD READINESS SCORING IN SUPPLIER SELECTION.” AMY THOMPSON, PH.D., CHIEF TALENT & TRAINING OFFICER, CCAT
“These upskilled employees serve as catalysts for automating manufacturing and inspection equipment programming, while leveraging product and manufacturing data to drive cost reduction and enhance quality. You can take your pivotal stride towards digital transformation, guided by the expertise of CCAT professionals," said Thompson.
To learn more about training courses and pathways, or to schedule a DTL information session for your organization, reach out to DTL@ccat.us or visit ccat-dtl.com.
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About CCAT
CCAT, a non-profit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in East Hartford, Conn., is a dynamic and innovative applied technology and training organization that leads regional and national partnerships that assist global industrial companies and the manufacturing supply chain across industry sectors in driving advancements, efficiencies and the adoption of leading-edge technologies. Learn more at ccat.us.
Digital Thread Lab Contact: Dr. Amy Thompson athompson@ccat.us
Media Contact for CCAT: Denise Gordon, dgordon@ccat.us
