Accelerating Production of Large Structures and Systems (RAPLSS)

NIST-sponsored Roadmap

Background: EWI and The Ohio State University are leading an effort to develop a national Roadmap for Accelerating Production of Large Structures and Systems (RAPLSS) for NIST’s Manufacturing USA Technology Roadmap (MfgTech) Grant Program. The roadmap will focus on making large structures and systems better, faster, and cheaper through the development of Large Structure Production 4.0 technologies, next-generation manufacturing, fabrication & inspection processes, and advanced training programs.

Survey Objective: Identify gaps and needs to improve American industry competitiveness for production of large structures & systems for energy, transportation, civil infrastructure, supply chain, and workforce development. Please take the time to complete this survey. The project team and the NIST Manufacturing USA community greatly appreciate your help.

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* 1. Please provide the following information.

Name & Title

Company

Email Address

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* 2. What industry most closely represents your organization (choose one)?

Energy (Nuclear / Wind / Solar)

Hydrogen / CCUS / Petro-chemical / Refining

Transportation & Civil Infrastructure (Rail, Bridges, Buildings)

Marine Facilities / Off-shore Structures / Shipbuilding

Rail & Off-road Vehicles

Primary Metals

Equipment Manufacturing / Service Provider

Other (please specify)

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* 3. For your organization, is competition from foreign companies likely to increase or decrease in the next 5 to 7 years?

Increase

Stay the same

Decrease

Unknown

Does not apply

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* 4. What functional capabilities are critical to the future of your organization (Choose all that apply):

Research and development

Production / manufacturing engineering

Prototyping

Material & component supply chains

Large forgings and castings

Automated fabrication processes

Larger cranes & material handling equipment

Larger ports and shipping facilities

Field service technologies

Local and/or virtual workforce education & training

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* 5. What technical / production areas are most likely to impede performance and / or increase costs (Choose all that apply):

Modern Design Capabilities – Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows

Advanced Materials – New materials that provide better fitness for service (structural, corrosion, high temperature, environmental performance)

Material Capacity (wrought plate, pipe, shapes, etc. tonnage)

Castings & Forgings Capacity (large format, tonnage)

Advanced Fabrication Capabilities – High productivity, large format and / or automated capabilities (material preparation, cutting, forming, joining, assembly, heat treating, inspection, and finishing processes, etc.)

Infrastructure Life Cycle Performance & Integrity Capabilities – Sensors & monitoring systems, service life extension & optimization technologies (Materials, methods, sensors and technologies used to sustain infrastructure)

Supply Chain Readiness – material, technology, and service suppliers

Workforce Readiness – availability of human resources that have the right education and training

Standards Availability - New specifications, guides, methods, and codes that provide requirements for production, quality and performance

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* 6. What industry 4.0 technologies are high priority to your organization (please rate each technology from least important to most important):

	Least important	Less important	Neutral	More important	Most important
Data Science AI/ML – artificial intelligence & machine learning used to control and / or improve design, production and performance of structures and systems.	Data Science AI/ML – artificial intelligence & machine learning used to control and / or improve design, production and performance of structures and systems. Least important	Data Science AI/ML – artificial intelligence & machine learning used to control and / or improve design, production and performance of structures and systems. Less important	Data Science AI/ML – artificial intelligence & machine learning used to control and / or improve design, production and performance of structures and systems. Neutral	Data Science AI/ML – artificial intelligence & machine learning used to control and / or improve design, production and performance of structures and systems. More important	Data Science AI/ML – artificial intelligence & machine learning used to control and / or improve design, production and performance of structures and systems. Most important
Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows	Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows Least important	Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows Less important	Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows Neutral	Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows More important	Simulation, Digital Twin, Digital Thread – Use of computer aided manufacturing technologies and digital workflows Most important
Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality – interactive workers’ environment that is enhanced with computer-generated visual elements, sounds, and other stimuli.	Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality – interactive workers’ environment that is enhanced with computer-generated visual elements, sounds, and other stimuli. Least important	Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality – interactive workers’ environment that is enhanced with computer-generated visual elements, sounds, and other stimuli. Less important	Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality – interactive workers’ environment that is enhanced with computer-generated visual elements, sounds, and other stimuli. Neutral	Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality – interactive workers’ environment that is enhanced with computer-generated visual elements, sounds, and other stimuli. More important	Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality – interactive workers’ environment that is enhanced with computer-generated visual elements, sounds, and other stimuli. Most important
Sensors / Internet of Things – The use of sensors in production and / or service systems that provide data for monitoring, control and ongoing improvement of structures and systems	Sensors / Internet of Things – The use of sensors in production and / or service systems that provide data for monitoring, control and ongoing improvement of structures and systems Least important	Sensors / Internet of Things – The use of sensors in production and / or service systems that provide data for monitoring, control and ongoing improvement of structures and systems Less important	Sensors / Internet of Things – The use of sensors in production and / or service systems that provide data for monitoring, control and ongoing improvement of structures and systems Neutral	Sensors / Internet of Things – The use of sensors in production and / or service systems that provide data for monitoring, control and ongoing improvement of structures and systems More important	Sensors / Internet of Things – The use of sensors in production and / or service systems that provide data for monitoring, control and ongoing improvement of structures and systems Most important
Portable Robotics – Robots, cobots, and other motion devices that are adaptively controlled and / or remotely guided (Tele) by personnel for operations and processes	Portable Robotics – Robots, cobots, and other motion devices that are adaptively controlled and / or remotely guided (Tele) by personnel for operations and processes Least important	Portable Robotics – Robots, cobots, and other motion devices that are adaptively controlled and / or remotely guided (Tele) by personnel for operations and processes Less important	Portable Robotics – Robots, cobots, and other motion devices that are adaptively controlled and / or remotely guided (Tele) by personnel for operations and processes Neutral	Portable Robotics – Robots, cobots, and other motion devices that are adaptively controlled and / or remotely guided (Tele) by personnel for operations and processes More important	Portable Robotics – Robots, cobots, and other motion devices that are adaptively controlled and / or remotely guided (Tele) by personnel for operations and processes Most important

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* 7. Which materials are widely used in your organization or used by your contractors to fabricate components for your organization (check all that apply)?

High-strength Carbon Steel (70 to 100 ksi yield strength)

Ultra High-strength Steel (above 100 ksi yield strength)

Cast Steels/ Cast Iron

Stainless Steel

Aluminum Alloys

Titanium Alloys

Copper Alloys

Nickel Alloys

Cobalt Alloys

Refractory Metals

Precious Metals

Magnesium and/or Magnesium Alloys Plastics and Polymers (organic and inorganic)

Ceramics

Glass

Bulk Metallic Glass / Amorphous Metals

Metal or Polymer Matrix Composites

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* 8. What fabrication technologies are most important to your organization (Choose all that apply):

Additive Manufacturing

Materials processes (cutting, machining, grinding, stamping, shearing, assembly)

Forming processes (forming, forging, extrusion)

Welding & joining processes

Coating processes (cold spray, thermal spray, paint)

Metrology (surveying, layout, dimensional inspection)

Inspection processes (visual, dye penetrant, ultrasonic, radiography, etc.)

Heavy-lift capabilities

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* 9. What services does your company need / use to advance research, engineering and technology objectives (Choose all that apply):

University graduate research projects

Applied research projects / services

Contract engineering / consultant services

Materials testing laboratories

Education & training courses, seminars, workshops

Manufacturing USA research institutes (America Makes, Lift, ARM, etc.) projects

Industry society / trade organization projects

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* 10. What types of collaborative development approaches would be most useful to improve production capabilities and implement new technologies?

	Not useful	Somewhat useful	Useful	More useful	Extremely useful
Working groups: industry researchers, universities, government	Working groups: industry researchers, universities, government Not useful	Working groups: industry researchers, universities, government Somewhat useful	Working groups: industry researchers, universities, government Useful	Working groups: industry researchers, universities, government More useful	Working groups: industry researchers, universities, government Extremely useful
Joint industry projects with multiple partners	Joint industry projects with multiple partners Not useful	Joint industry projects with multiple partners Somewhat useful	Joint industry projects with multiple partners Useful	Joint industry projects with multiple partners More useful	Joint industry projects with multiple partners Extremely useful
University research centers funded by industry & government	University research centers funded by industry & government Not useful	University research centers funded by industry & government Somewhat useful	University research centers funded by industry & government Useful	University research centers funded by industry & government More useful	University research centers funded by industry & government Extremely useful
National Lab projects funded by industry & government	National Lab projects funded by industry & government Not useful	National Lab projects funded by industry & government Somewhat useful	National Lab projects funded by industry & government Useful	National Lab projects funded by industry & government More useful	National Lab projects funded by industry & government Extremely useful
Applied research institute specifically focused on Production of Large Structure & Systems, such as Manufacturing USA institutes https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes	Applied research institute specifically focused on Production of Large Structure & Systems, such as Manufacturing USA institutes https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes Not useful	Applied research institute specifically focused on Production of Large Structure & Systems, such as Manufacturing USA institutes https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes Somewhat useful	Applied research institute specifically focused on Production of Large Structure & Systems, such as Manufacturing USA institutes https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes Useful	Applied research institute specifically focused on Production of Large Structure & Systems, such as Manufacturing USA institutes https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes More useful	Applied research institute specifically focused on Production of Large Structure & Systems, such as Manufacturing USA institutes https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes Extremely useful
Technology specialized non-profit research organizations leveraging industry and government funding	Technology specialized non-profit research organizations leveraging industry and government funding Not useful	Technology specialized non-profit research organizations leveraging industry and government funding Somewhat useful	Technology specialized non-profit research organizations leveraging industry and government funding Useful	Technology specialized non-profit research organizations leveraging industry and government funding More useful	Technology specialized non-profit research organizations leveraging industry and government funding Extremely useful

Coating processes (cold spray, thermal spray, paint)

Metrology (surveying, layout, dimensional inspection)

Inspection processes (visual, dye penetrant, ultrasonic, radiography, etc.)

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* 16. What technologies need new or improved automation to meet production capabilities (Choose all that apply):

Additive Manufacturing

Materials processes (cutting, machining, grinding, stamping, shearing, assembly)

Forming processes (forming, forging, extrusion)

Welding & joining processes

Coating processes (cold spray, thermal spray, paint)

Metrology (surveying, layout, dimensional inspection)

Inspection processes (visual, dye penetrant, ultrasonic, radiography, etc.)

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* 17. Missing gaps in your organization that aren’t included in our industry capability areas?

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* 18. Would you like someone from the Roadmap for Advancing Production of Large Structures & Systems to call you to discuss other needs, gaps, or objectives that are critical to your company’s business plans?

Yes

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Thank you for your time.

Accelerating Production of Large Structures and Systems (RAPLSS)NIST-sponsored Roadmap

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* 1. Please provide the following information.

Question Title

* 2. What industry most closely represents your organization (choose one)?

Question Title

* 3. For your organization, is competition from foreign companies likely to increase or decrease in the next 5 to 7 years?

Question Title

* 4. What functional capabilities are critical to the future of your organization (Choose all that apply):

Question Title

* 5. What technical / production areas are most likely to impede performance and / or increase costs (Choose all that apply):

Question Title

* 6. What industry 4.0 technologies are high priority to your organization (please rate each technology from least important to most important):

Question Title

* 7. Which materials are widely used in your organization or used by your contractors to fabricate components for your organization (check all that apply)?

Question Title

* 8. What fabrication technologies are most important to your organization (Choose all that apply):

Question Title

* 9. What services does your company need / use to advance research, engineering and technology objectives (Choose all that apply):

Question Title

* 10. What types of collaborative development approaches would be most useful to improve production capabilities and implement new technologies?

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* 11. For your organization, is it easier or more difficult today compared to 10 years ago to find trained and qualified skilled trades personnel?

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* 12. For your organization, is it easier or more difficult today compared to 10 years ago to find trained and qualified professional technical personnel?

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* 13. In your organization, are the number of trained and qualified skilled trades assigned to advanced manufacturing activities likely to increase or decrease in the next 5 to 7 years?

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* 14. In your organization, are the number of professional technical staff assigned to advanced manufacturing activities likely to increase or decrease in the next 5 to 7 years?

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* 15. What technologies need new or improved training to meet production capabilities (Choose all that apply):

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* 16. What technologies need new or improved automation to meet production capabilities (Choose all that apply):

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* 17. Missing gaps in your organization that aren’t included in our industry capability areas?

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* 18. Would you like someone from the Roadmap for Advancing Production of Large Structures & Systems to call you to discuss other needs, gaps, or objectives that are critical to your company’s business plans?

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Accelerating Production of Large Structures and Systems (RAPLSS)

NIST-sponsored Roadmap