A More Connected, Scalable, and Effective AM Ecosystem
What Is Leading Minds?
Leading Minds is one of the most strategically important industry initiatives to emerge in additive manufacturing in the past several years.
It is not another trade association or standards organization.
Instead, it is an executive-level coalition of the industry's leading companies that collaborate to tackle the biggest obstacle facing additive manufacturing today—industrial adoption.
Who Is Leading Minds?
Leading Minds is a collaborative initiative of forward-looking and practical, leading AM companies.
Leading Minds Mission
To accelerate adoption and utilization of additive manufacturing / 3D printing.
Leading Minds Objectives
Enable manufacturing companies to integrate and scale 3D printing solutions more effectively.
Increase awareness and eliminate barriers to adoption at scale.
Help create a more connected, scalable, and effective AM ecosystem.
Why Additive Manufacturing Matters
Leading Minds understands the real challenges companies face. Our collaboration exists to help companies move from complexity to clarity so AM can be widely adopted.
With an array of benefits, additive manufacturing transforms how high-performing companies engineer, produce, and supply end-use parts.
Common Barriers to AM
Lack of internal expertise
Perceived high cost
Integration with existing processes
Fragmented terminology and ecosystem complexity
Uncertainty around where and how to start
Difficulty scaling from pilot to industrial production
AM Benefits
Design freedom
More responsive production and distributed manufacturing
Supply chain flexibility
Customization
Faster innovation
Sustainability potential
Join the Conversation
As we work to accomplish our initiatives, we ask that you join the conversation. Provide insights and get the latest developments for AM adoption.
AM I Navigator
The Manual for Industrial Additive Manufacturing Framework
The AM I Navigator is a comprehensive and widely recognized maturity model that outlines the key stages of industrialized Additive Manufacturing (AM). It offers companies a structured and proven framework to successfully implement their AM strategies by applying targeted measures aligned with each stage of maturity.
America Makes
Advancing the Technology. Growing the Workforce. Expanding the Industrial Base.
America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing technology and education. Our members from industry, academia, government, and workforce and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness.