NIU is helping to supply the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) has been working with Rockford-area companies to provide affordable, low quantity parts to the military. The relationships are the product of the college’s Rapid Optimization of Commercial Knowledge (ROCK) program, which began in 2004.

Dr. Promod Vohra, dean of CEET, said ROCK is an excellent example of how engineering schools can make an impact.

“We’re trying to promote manufacturing in Rockford, stimulate economic development and connect Rockford manufacturers to the DOD and to the assistance of our faculty and students.” Vohra said.

The U.S. Army Rock Island Arsenal in Moline is among the partners involved in the program.

“They have so much expertise and so many needs,” Vohra said of the facility.

The U.S. Army RIA produces howitzer cannons and gun mounts for Abrams tanks, as reported on its Web site.

According to the Board of Trustees university report, CEET and the local manufacturers will aim to develop more affordable Future Combat Systems for the DOD, including armor and gun systems.

Many of the manufacturers in the partnership work in the micromachining field, producing replacement parts used by the U.S. Army.

By acquiring these resources from outside contractors, the Army can cut down the wait time from months to days, said Dick Johnson, Director of Research and Development at NIU Naperville.

“There’s the government way of doing things and then there’s the private enterprise way of doing things, which is as fast as the customer is willing to pay for it,” Johnson said.

NIU’s role is to oversee the relationships between the companies, said Sonja Hetzel, Program Administrative Assistant.

“What we’re trying to do is be a liaison between education and the manufacturing community in Rockford to try to bring new technologies, create jobs and help startup companies,” Hetzel said.