Resources and Programs Offer Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

ASME has been actively responding to the COVID-19 challenge by making many of its resources available during this trying time. These resources include COVID-19 coverage in Mechanical Engineering magazine and on ASME.org, articles in the journals and proceedings, and educational opportunities for professional engineers as well as university and K-12 students.

In addition, ASME is convening representatives of the additive manufacturing and 3D printing industry to address possible responses to COVID-19. In collaboration with America Makes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Veterans Hospital Administration (VHA), ASME has been hosting online discussions of this COVID-19 Task Force. These sessions have featured discussion on such priority areas as part shortages, PPE equipment, medical devices and ventilators, access to validated designs, consolidated data repository, and supply chain challenges. Leading manufacturers have also been sharing their current initiatives and opportunities for collaboration during the webinars. 

For more information on these webinars, visit https://event.asme.org/AM-Medical/Resources/Medical-AM-3DP-Resources. In another upcoming webinar series from ASME’s Mechanical Engineering magazine, experts from various industries will discuss what the post-COVID-19 reboot will look like, from medical supply chains to robotics.

Engineers are also encouraged to review activities of ASME’s collaborator, America Makes, the flagship institute of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. It is partnering with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help ensure that the additive manufacturing/3D printing industry can effectively and safely meet the needs of America’s health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

America Makes is currently collecting information to assist in filling shortages in the healthcare supply chain. Through the institute’s website, manufacturers can submit additive manufacturing capabilities, engineers can upload their designs, and healthcare organizations can submit a list of their needs. Designs will be reviewed by the NIH, FDA and VHA. America Makes is also sponsoring design challenges. For more information, please visit www.americamakes.us/statement-on-covid-19.

More information on COVID-19 can be found on www.asme.org/covid-19. A list of resources can found at https://event.asme.org/AM-Medical/Resources/Medical-AM-3DP-Resources.