The US is creating the first autonomous manufacturing facility where parts are printed "on demand" - without warehouses or supplies.
The US is creating the first autonomous manufacturing facility where parts are printed "on demand" - without warehouses or supplies.
Artificial intelligence and additive technologies are shaping a new industrial model : from "mass production" to "smart manufacturing on demand ," where every part is created in a digital data stream.
A new industrial order: production without stocks and delays
On the small island of Guam, a strategic US territory in the western Pacific Ocean, construction has begun on the first fully autonomous next-generation manufacturing center – the Guam Advanced Material & Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA).The project is being implemented by ASTRO America, a nonprofit organization known for its initiatives in additive manufacturing and engineering education. The plant, being built in Dededo, will be a site where parts will be manufactured "on demand," eliminating warehouses and supply chains.
The main idea is to implement Just in Time (JIT) principles to ensure that the necessary components are produced exactly when they are needed. This is especially relevant for Guam, which is remote from mainland suppliers.
The US is creating the first autonomous manufacturing facility where parts are printed "on demand" - without warehouses or supplies.
Innovation and Education: The University as an Industrial Partner
A key element of the project was the "2+2" engineering education program —a joint initiative of the University of Guam, ASTRO America, and the Colorado School of Mines.Students complete two years of training on the island, after which they continue their studies and practical training at the new facility without leaving their home region.
In addition, the university is opening a Faculty of Electrical Engineering to develop a new engineering elite in the Pacific region.
Geopolitics and Economics: The US Strategic Foothold in Asia
The GAMMA project also has strategic significance. In the coming years , approximately 10,000 military personnel and specialists will relocate to Guam , strengthening the US presence in the region.The center will provide the fleet and infrastructure with locally manufactured spare parts, reducing dependence on supplies from the mainland.
Local economists predict that additive manufacturing will drive economic diversification, which has relied on tourism for decades.
3D printing is already being actively implemented in aircraft manufacturing, medicine, and construction, and Guam could become a platform for scaling these solutions in Asia.
Industrial analogs and trends
A successful example of this approach is GE Aviation, which opened a 3D printed aircraft parts manufacturing facility in Alabama back in 2015. Today, it operates over 40 industrial printers and has produced over 30,000 aircraft engine components.Another example is Zoox (owned by Amazon), which launched production of autonomous taxis in 2025. Despite the high level of automation, the project demonstrated that the hybrid human-robot model remains optimal for real-world production.
Guam as the "Silicon Village" of the Pacific
Local authorities are already naming a long-term goal: to transform the island into a regional center for engineering and technology , unofficially dubbed “Silicon Village. ”The GAMMA project will be the core of this transformation:
creates infrastructure for local production;
attracts investment and university cooperation;
is creating a new industrial culture based on autonomous systems and AI integration.
As fx24news analysts note, "GAMMA is more than just a factory. It's a testbed for the future, where manufacturing, education, and military strategy are intertwined into a single technological ecosystem."
creates infrastructure for local production;
attracts investment and university cooperation;
is creating a new industrial culture based on autonomous systems and AI integration.
As fx24news analysts note, "GAMMA is more than just a factory. It's a testbed for the future, where manufacturing, education, and military strategy are intertwined into a single technological ecosystem."
By Claire Whitmore
November 07, 2025
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November 07, 2025
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