Convergent Manufacturing: A Future of Additive, Subtractive, and Transformative Manufacturing

A convergent manufacturing platform is defined as a system that synergistically combines heterogeneous materials and processes (e.g., additive, subtractive, and transformative) in one platform. The platform is equipped with unprecedented modularity, flexibility, connectivity, reconfigurability, portability, and customization capabilities. The result is one manufacturing platform that is easily reconfigured to output new functional devices and complex components for systems. This manufacturing system also converges the integration of physical components and digital models along with sensor networks for process monitoring and production.

The National Materials and Manufacturing Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a 3-day workshop event to explore research and development (R&D) opportunities and challenges for convergent manufacturing. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, the three workshops in the series were held virtually on November 15, 2021; November 19, 2021; and November 22, 2021. The workshop series focused on the following three overarching topics: (1) key areas for R&D investments that will enable the readiness and commercial development of convergent manufacturing; (2) application areas for convergent manufacturing, with an emphasis on future Army and related civilian applications; and (3) approaches for the design of a convergent manufacturing platform.