Gary L. Neidig, president and CEO of Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Companies (ITAMCO) joined the MxD board of directors. ITAMCO is a multi-faceted, advanced manufacturing company with locations in Plymouth and Argos, Indiana. ITAMCO’s core business is in metal machining of precision gears and machined components.
“The perspectives of small and medium-sized manufacturers, which comprise the bulk of U.S. manufacturing, are critical to the conversations MxD leads about driving growth and competitiveness in the sector,” says Berardino Baratta, CEO of MxD (Figure 1). “We’re delighted to welcome Gary Neidig to the board, who brings both leadership in this space and longstanding support of the MxD mission as a former member of our executive council.”
Neidig has served in customer service, engineering and executive-management roles during his 42 years in manufacturing while overseeing technology development for advanced manufacturing (Figure 2). He is an active coder and has written engineering and business system applications. Neidig graduated from Bob Jones University with a bachelor of science degree in business management and a minor in computer science.
"Digitalization will allow companies to reduce labor and defects, while increasing their productivity and enhancing the work environment," says Neidig. "Paper systems are neither effective nor efficient. In other words, they don’t scale."
Neidig is especially excited about reducing the cost of implementing controlled-unclassified-information (CUI) protocols and processes, as well as enhancing intelligence applications to positively improve workers' daily activities.
“I’ve always considered MxD to be the premier manufacturing institute,” explains Neidig (Figure 3). “Our highest priority should be the opportunity to make tangible improvements in the U.S. manufacturing base through digitalization. I am excited to be a part of the MxD board as it helps steer this industry-changing organization, shaping the future of manufacturing in the digital age.”
Neidig will join current board members, Billy Bardin, global climate transition director, Dow; Katy George, senior partner and chief people officer, McKinsey & Company; Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO, Siemens Digital Industries Software; Mary Isbister, board chair and wwner, GenMet; John Kusnierek, senior vice president, LibertyWorks Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce; Shirish Pareek, chairman and CEO, Adaptec Solutions; Jocelyn Seng, retired Air Force Major General; Carroll Thomas, director (retired), National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership; and Jay Walsh, vice president for economic development and innovation, University of Illinois.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Manufacturing x Digital (MxD) focuses on equipping U.S. factories with the digital tools, cybersecurity and workforce expertise needed to begin building every part better than the last (Figure 4). With nearly 300 partners, MxD is also the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, as designated by DoD.
