BETHESDA, Md. – The Navy Resources for Additive Manufacturing (N-RAM) is a Flank Speed SharePoint site that centralizes additive and advanced manufacturing information for users with Flank Speed access. Born from a SEA 00B-led Kaizen process improvement effort, N-RAM consolidates specifications, standards, policy letters, and technical guidance. The site tags each document as current or superseded to close the information gap identified during the Kaizen event. A “launchpad” page routes users to frequently requested materials and related subpages.
N-RAM’s intent is straightforward. “The goal was to stop people from having to email multiple subject matter experts to find the latest document,” said N-RAM lead engineer Ryan Donnelly. “Instead, N-RAM changes the question from ‘Who has this?’ to ‘Have you checked N-RAM?’” Donnelly said his team quickly uploads new or revised documents, so users see the most recent guidance.
The site goes beyond document access. A centralized tracker follows candidate parts from requirements and contracting through modeling, printing, and final approval. Donnelly’s team uses Power Platform tools available in the Flank Speed environment to display status and metrics in near-real time, reducing reliance on static slide updates for recurring Pentagon-level briefs. The dataset refreshes nightly at 4 a.m. to remain current.
Engineers, program managers, and technical authorities are the primary daily users. Sailors can reference N-RAM when connectivity allows, though the primary downstream impact occurs when approved AM parts enter the supply system. “It increases readiness once those parts are in the system because it provides an alternate way to procure hard-to-source, long-lead items,” Donnelly said.
N-RAM shortens the path from guidance to production. Instead of relying on ad hoc emails and stale versions, users start with a single, tagged source for current AM specifications, standards, and policy. The site also transforms part production into shared situational awareness: leaders see near-real-time status and metrics rather than waiting on static slide updates. As AM parts clear approval and enter the supply system, N-RAM supports an alternate procurement pathway for legacy, hard-to-source, or long-lead items. Built on standard enterprise tools within Flank Speed, N-RAM scales across programs and organizations without extra licenses, enabling links to shipyards and regional maintenance centers (RMCs) without duplicating systems.
To keep information accurate, the team centralizes stewardship. Donnelly performs about 90 to 95% of site editing and uploads, using inputs from subject-matter points of contact, including the technical warrant holder. A built-in feedback form allows users to request content or report updates. A separate Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) inbox handles AM part requests; officials triage and evaluate submissions, adding them to the N-RAM tracker when appropriate. According to Donnelly, the production tracker has scaled from a few entries to roughly 140 of varying complexity, from quick-turn efforts at warfare centers such as NSWC Philadelphia to longer-duration projects executed through other contract vehicles.
Donnelly built N-RAM using standard enterprise tools – SharePoint, Power Apps, and Power BI – without additional licensing. He credited his experience on rotation with Code 104 and the Flank Speed Champion Network for the patterns he applied to the site and dashboards. Jay Ong, NAVSEA Deputy Director and program sponsor, said N-RAM has met its objective since launch, garnering more than 6,000 views from thousands of unique users. That reach delivers AM guidance, status updates, and awareness to more end users than email alone. Looking ahead, Ong defined success as broader participation and cross-linking: RMCs have begun standing up pages within N-RAM, with similar connections planned to avoid duplicate systems and improve discoverability in the NAVSEA AM community.
For access and additional details, users with Flank Speed accounts can visit N-RAM. https://flankspeed.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/navyresourcesforAM
For access on a DISTRO A level, users can utilize the AM Center of Excellence (AM CoE) resources site for a subset of the documents and information. https://navydigitalsea.com/resources/