Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations are essential to sustain and extend the life of numerous systems including aerospace, energy, defense, heavy equipment, and railroad. Aircraft engine MRO alone is a $30B global industry, projected to grow beyond $40B within five years. Overall, global aircraft MRO will exceed $100B annually within the next few years. As the value of high-performance components increases, there is a strong and growing financial incentive to find ways to repair rather than replace them. Legacy repair methods are often not appropriate for newer designs, which incorporate new materials and/or manufacturing methods, necessitating the development of novel repair solutions.
AMRO CoE Workshop held at EWI in May
On May 30th, EWI hosted a day-long workshop to explore the need for a new Aerospace Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul Center of Excellence (AMRO CoE). The event attracted manufacturers, MRO service providers, and asset owners from across the country to discuss commercial industry and national defense needs. Afternoon breakout sessions identified priorities for the emergent center, which included technology development, maturation, and demonstration, as well as developing the new workforce needed to implement these solutions. The workshop included presentations from diverse stakeholders including industry (NetJets, GE Aviation), tech start-up (VeriTx), non-profits (Ohio Aerospace Institute, Wright State Research Institute), and three major university programs (University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, The Ohio State University).The workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion on findings and next steps.
AMRO CoE will leverage resources from industry and government to build unmatched innovation capabilities for both military and commercial MRO applications. It will be the first vertically integrated center focused on repair technology and commercialization. By conducting translational development to advance the readiness of new MRO technologies, the CoE will bridge the gap between academic research and commercial applications, while helping to develop the workforce skills needed to successfuly implement new MRO technologies. Ongoing activities will include needs analysis, precompetitive research, applied development, supply chain assistance, and workforce training. All AMRO CoE partners will have access to the broad range of technical capabilities available through the center.
The new center will be operated as an initiative of EWI, with partners from the R&D and education communities. The center is actively seeking additional partners.
For more information about AMRO CoE, contact EWI at [email protected] or 614.688.5152.