Manufacturing Technology’s Role in National Security
One message continues to emerge across AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology’s work and industry conversations: The strength of the U.S. defense industrial base is closely tied to the capabilities of the manufacturing technology sector.
That connection was a recurring theme at The MFG Meeting 2026, where two sessions explored how manufacturing technology companies can contribute to strengthening the nation’s industrial capacity – from improving supply chain visibility to expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities for defense production.
Improving Defense Supply Chains Through Digital Tools
In the fireside chat “Digital Transformation Across the Defense Industrial Base,” Veronica Daigle, president of Red Cell Partners’ National Security Practice, joined Brennan Grignon, CEO and co-founder of Vantive AI, to discuss the growing importance of data and digital tools in managing the complex supply chains behind modern defense systems.
Both speakers brought experience from government and industry, offering perspectives on the challenges policymakers face in
understanding the industrial networks supporting major defense programs. Supply chains for critical systems often involve thousands of suppliers, yet the information needed to fully understand those relationships is frequently scattered across organizations and data systems.
“It’s about the machine tools," said Grignon. "Without them, nothing else gets built.”
Grignon also noted that when urgent policy decisions arise – such as sanctions or shifts in trade policy – officials must quickly determine how those decisions might affect materials, components, and suppliers deep within the supply chain. In many cases, that information still resides in disconnected spreadsheets, presentations, or the institutional knowledge of individuals who have worked on these programs for years.
Digital tools are beginning to address that challenge. Technologies that integrate supply chain data and apply advanced analytics can help government and industry leaders better understand dependencies, identify risks, and respond more quickly to disruptions. For manufacturers supporting defense programs, that kind of visibility is becoming increasingly important as the U.S. Department of Defense pushes for greater transparency and resilience across its supplier networks.
Expanding Industry Engagement in Defense Production
A related discussion took place during the panel “Access Granted: Ways AMT Companies Can Engage and Grow in Defense.” Moderated by Dan Bagley, principal at Strategic Ink, the panel featured retired Navy Commander Vince Stammetti, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Blue Forge Alliance, and Jon Glass, executive director of the Defense Industrial Base Institute at Northeastern University.
The conversation focused on practical ways manufacturing technology companies can become more involved in defense production, particularly within the Navy’s maritime industrial base.
As shipbuilding programs expand, the Navy and its partners are working to strengthen the supplier ecosystem that supports those efforts. That includes identifying manufacturers with the capabilities – machining, fabrication, additive manufacturing, automation, and advanced inspection – to help address production bottlenecks and expand capacity across the supply chain.
Building a Stronger, More Connected Industrial Base
Many of the technologies represented across AMT’s membership are already part of that effort. Advanced machining systems, additive manufacturing, robotics, and digital engineering tools are increasingly used to produce complex components and improve manufacturing efficiency.
Shipyards themselves are evolving as well. Digital shipyard initiatives are introducing digital twins and connected engineering systems that allow production data, schedules, and designs to move more efficiently across operations. These tools help manage the complexity of large defense programs while maintaining strict quality standards.
Panelists also discussed the potential for distributed manufacturing – producing components across a broader network of suppliers around the country before final assembly at major shipyards. This approach could tap into manufacturing capacity beyond traditional defense hubs.
“Strengthening the defense industrial base requires a broader manufacturing ecosystem,” said Glass. He also noted that the United States holds a significant advantage in its capital markets. Mobilizing more private investment toward manufacturing and defense production could accelerate efforts to expand industrial capacity.
Taken together, the discussions reinforced a point AMT has consistently emphasized: manufacturing technology sits at the foundation of both economic strength and national security.
That message is also central to the conversations AMT is currently having with agencies across the administration. As policymakers focus on strengthening the defense industrial base and expanding domestic manufacturing capacity, there is increasing recognition that the ability to produce advanced defense systems ultimately depends on the capabilities of the manufacturing technology sector – machine tools, automation, additive manufacturing, and the broader production ecosystem that supports modern manufacturing.
As the United States works to expand and modernize the defense industrial base, the companies developing these technologies will play an essential role in ensuring the nation can build – and sustain – the systems needed to support the warfighter.
