America Makes’ John Wilczynski Explains How 3D Printing Is Accelerating Innovation and Workforce Growth

America Makes, the U.S. national accelerator for additive manufacturing, has driven research, commercialization, and widespread adoption of 3D printing since 2012. With 88 R&D projects and a membership that grew from 65 to over 225, the institute is now tackling the most critical industry challenges.

In this expert interview, Executive Director John Wilczynski explains how America Makes is partnering with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, advancing industry standards, and building a skilled workforce to accelerate 3D printing adoption.

What is America Makes and what is its mission?

America Makes’ mission is to advance the adoption of additive manufacturing by building a robust industrial base. Since its founding in 2012 with funding from federal agencies, we have focused on technology development, transition, and workforce training. The program is operated by the non‑profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), not a government agency.

Significance of the $322 million Air Force partnership

The agreement confirms America Makes as a trusted partner for the U.S. government and opens a seven‑year window to bid on federal projects. The $322 million contract includes cost‑share and in‑kind contributions, and gives us a streamlined pathway to fund both the institute and its 225 member partners. In the past seven years, we have already invested more than $200 million in AM R&D.

America Makes’ John Wilczynski Explains How 3D Printing Is Accelerating Innovation and Workforce Growth

Key initiatives over the years

Our core focus is applied R&D that moves technology closer to commercial deployment. We built a roadmap within a year of launch that spans design, materials, processes, value chain, and the AM genome. The roadmap identifies technology gaps and rallies the community to address them. In parallel, we develop industry‑recognized credentials and collaborate with K‑12, higher‑education, and workforce training programs to expand the talent pipeline.

Status of additive manufacturing standards

Standardization has become essential as AM shifts from prototyping to end‑use production. The Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative (AMSC) roadmap, now at version 2.0, is a publicly available, dynamic tool that tracks gaps and updates from ISO, ASTM, ASME, and SAE. While consensus standards can take time, we have already advanced several drafts that are in peer review and will transition to federal standards within the next one to two years.

Top challenges to accelerating AM adoption

1. Accessible materials data – Designers need reliable, industry‑wide material performance data, which is currently limited. 2. Qualification & certification – Processes and parts must be certified for end‑use applications, yet pathways remain fragmented. 3. Design for additive manufacturing – Most current parts simply replace conventional designs; true generative design is still under‑exploited.

Exciting industry developments

The pace of new AM processes and software is remarkable. New companies and traditional manufacturers are entering the space, bringing fresh technologies and manufacturing expertise. Advanced simulation and digital‑only design are reducing the need for empirical testing, driving down costs and speeding time‑to‑market.

Future outlook for the next five years

We expect continued expansion of production‑grade AM and broader material data availability. New alloy development guided by shared datasets will unlock higher performance parts. The integration of design‑for‑AM principles will make the technology more competitive than conventional manufacturing for many applications.

America Makes’ focus for the next seven years

We will prioritize material data collection, expand into automotive and other sectors, and coordinate roadmap activities with suppliers. Workforce development remains central; we’re partnering with industry, academia, and government to create curricula that reflect real‑world needs and industry‑recognized credentials. A workforce that can transition between sectors, from military to OEM, will be the key to unlocking the full potential of AM.

Final thoughts

Building a trained, adaptable workforce is critical to sustaining the projected growth of additive manufacturing. America Makes is convening the entire ecosystem—government, industry, and academia—to create curricula that reflect real‑world needs and industry‑recognized credentials. A workforce that can transition between sectors, from military to OEM, will be the key to unlocking the full potential of AM.