Minneapolis, MN — February 26 —Third Wave Systems and The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of digital thread and model‑based definition (MBD) practices while addressing critical skills gaps across the modern manufacturing workforce. Supported by the U.S. Air Force Digital Transformation Office (DTO), this partnership aims to equip manufacturing professionals with practical knowledge and hands-on capabilities that improve product development speed, reduce on-machine trial iterations, enhances machine trial iterations, and optimizing operational performance.

As part of the partnership, a three-day machining modeling course, The Machining Modeling Intensive, will be held in CCAT’s Digital Labs. This immersive program blends industry aligned curriculum with real application to help participants build advanced machining competencies to deliver complex, high-value components faster while maintaining stringent quality standards within a model-based engineering (MBE) workflow. CCAT and TWS will also collaborate on an annual one-day workshop at CCAT’s Talent & Training Accelerator. The program will introduce best practices, lessons learned, and key value propositions associated with MBD implementation. TWS and CCAT will also partner to deliver a one-day modeling course held during CCAT’s Monthly Manufacturing Week series.

“Our partnership with CCAT represents an important step in aligning workforce development with the future of digital manufacturing,” said Kerry Marusich, CEO of Third Wave Systems. “By bringing machining modeling and analysis directly into the digital thread and model-based engineering workflow, we are equipping manufacturers with the tools and insight they need to make better decisions earlier in the process. This collaboration accelerates capability development while strengthening the Military Defense and aerospace supply chain.”

This collaboration brings together CCAT’s cutting edge technical capabilities with Third Wave Systems’ deep domain expertise in machining modeling. TWS’s technology and thought leadership in the machining simulation technology space highlight the practical benefits of investing in machining workforce readiness and accelerating applied technical capabilities.

“Our joint initiative with TWS underscores our commitment to advancing digital manufacturing capabilities and supporting the readiness of both Air Force personnel and the broader supplier community,” said Dr. Amy Thompson, CCAT CTO. “Creating a scalable training model for digital thread and MBD is essential to ensuring the long‑term ‑strength and competitiveness of the defense supply chain.”

The Machining Modeling Intensive focuses on practical approaches to machining modeling and analysis, enabling participants to:

• Accelerate on time ‑delivery by streamlining the transition from design to machining with fewer physical trials
• Enhance new product introduction (NPI) through proactive evaluation of machining strategies
• Improve quality and efficiency by applying best practices in practice‑ modeling techniques that reduce rework and variability

“This partnership to advance technology for machining emphasizes the need for small manufacturers and machine shops to work smarter, not harder. By adopting this TWS technology, businesses can compete with low-cost labor nations by producing precision components at lower cost and high-quality. Come to CCAT’s Digital Thread Lab for Digital Manufacturing Training and let CCAT and TWS show you how,” said Dr. Thompson.

About Third Wave Systems

Third Wave Systems (TWS) helps enable people to transform manufacturing by providing material-specific simulation products and services to companies that machine. Progressive automotive, aerospace, and cutting tool companies use TWS’ products to accelerate development cycles to get to market faster, while reducing machining costs and improving quality…much faster than the old way of trial-and-error testing. TWS is privately held, based in Minneapolis, MN, USA, with offices in Germany, England, Japan, and global distribution.

Media Contact: Albert Leung
[email protected]