§2521. National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program

(a) Establishment of Program.-The Secretary of Defense shall establish a National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program. The Secretary shall use the program to-

(1) provide centralized guidance and direction (including goals, milestones, and priorities) to the military departments and the Defense Agencies on all matters relating to manufacturing technology;

(2) direct the development and implementation of Department of Defense plans, programs, projects, activities, and policies that promote the development and application of advanced technologies to manufacturing processes, tools, and equipment;

(3) improve the manufacturing quality, productivity, technology, and practices of businesses and workers providing goods and services to the Department of Defense;

(4) promote dual-use manufacturing processes;

(5) disseminate information concerning improved manufacturing improvement concepts, including information on such matters as best manufacturing practices, product data exchange specifications, computer-aided acquisition and logistics support, and rapid acquisition of manufactured parts;

(6) sustain and enhance the skills and capabilities of the manufacturing work force;

(7) promote high-performance work systems (with development and dissemination of production technologies that build upon the skills and capabilities of the work force), high levels of worker education and training; and

(8) ensure appropriate coordination between the manufacturing technology programs and industrial preparedness programs of the Department of Defense and similar programs undertaken by other departments and agencies of the Federal Government or by the private sector.

(b) Relationship to National Technology and Industrial Base Plan.-The Secretary shall ensure that the program is developed and implemented in accordance with the manufacturing technology guidance set forth in the national technology and industrial base plan prepared under section 2506 of this title.

(c) Revisions.-The Secretary shall revise the program not later than March 15 of each year through fiscal year 1997 and of each odd-numbered year thereafter. Each revision shall identify each manufacturing technology program, project, or activity of the Department of Defense and the amounts provided for each such program, project, and activity in the budget submitted by the President under section 1105 of title 31 for the fiscal year beginning in that year.

(Added Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLII, §4231(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2686 .)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2521, added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VIII, §821(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1426 , defined terms for purposes of former chapter 150 of this title, prior to repeal and restatement in section 2491 of this title by Pub. L. 102–484, §§4202(a), 4203(a).

Another prior section 2521 was renumbered section 2540 of this title and subsequently repealed.