Performance Update | April - December 2023

Additive Manufacturing Adoption

• Engagement with industry and regulatory authorities including the Department of Defense, GE Additive, and Boeing continued in support of a part production qualification whitepaper to assist industry with the development of qualified factories.
• CoCr (Cobalt Chrome) was selected for further investigation and equivalency studies.
• The curriculum launched based on current skills expressed by regional industry both through anindustry needs survey completed in spring 2023 and the qualitative follow-up through lab staff and internal betatesting.
• Potential suppliers are being evaluated for qualified factory audit beta testing.

Future Factory

• Plans in process for facility modifications necessary to installEDA purchased Modig and Okumamachines, expected in Spring '24
• BETA tested GD&T Metrology curriculum with local manufacturers, engaged feedback for desired curriculum modifications
• Engaged with seven industry partners to focus on training design & development of metrology and machiningtraining partnerships
• Metrology training has been developed to include industry recognized certifications
• Smart Manufacturing Industry Leadership Team created to engage companies on the design and availability ofSmart Factory training
• WSU Tech, the first college/university to receive a complete SMC Smart Training Factory, took delivery on December 22, 2023. It is expected to provide unique opportunities for students and incumbent workers on complete factory systems.

HAMR (Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research)

• Program validation studies revealed a need for additional office space within the building. Project scope was increased to include full second floor to address need and provide future personnel growth capacity.
• The increased project scope will be funded by other(non-EDA) funds.
• The revised architectural program & associated project budget was approved by the Kansas Board of Regents May 2023 meeting.
• The code plans were reviewed and accepted by the Office of the State Fire Marshall
• Final building exterior materials were selected • The design team and Wichita State University staff met with the furniture vendor and a/v consultant to finalizedesign for coordination with the construction documents.

Governance and Evaluation

• U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo site visit, April 11,2023
• EDA Economic Development Conference, three coalition staff in attendance, Denver, CO April 10-12, 2023
• South Kansas Coalition, Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) inauguralmeeting. May 11, 2023
• Brookings Metro site visit, May 23-24, 2023
• South Kansas Coalition TAP meeting for Kansas Aviation Research & Technical Growth (KART) industry members,June 7, 2023
• Wichita Chamber, DEI Advisory Committee meetings bi-monthly on the 2nd Thursday of each month
• Chamber presented final segments of its DEI Professional Development Series on June 22, 2023, and November 2, 2023.