Gen. Gustave Perna, commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, has said he believes additive manufacturing has potential applications in the service branch’s prepositioned stocks and depots, the Army reported Thursday.C. Todd Lopez writes Perna said Wednesday at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting and exposition the three-dimensional printing method could help reduce the military branch’s supply chain requirements and facilitate on-demand production of materials in support of warfighters and commanders on the battlefield.
He also noted the need for the Army to collaborate with industry on the issue of intellectual property in relation to the service branch’s adoption of the additive manufacturing process, Lopez reports.
“Up front, in the acquisition process, we’ll have to come to terms with owning the intellectual property for the things we’ve purchased,” Perna said.
“If we don’t own the intellectual property, we won’t be able to really utilize the additive manufacturing to its fullest capability,” he added.
Other programs Perna mentioned at the event include the Army’s Strategic Portfolio Analysis and Review and rapid capabilities office, the report said.
