Alion wins Navy engineering task

Alion Science and Technology Corp. is developing a suite of systems that can repair shipboard equipment and fabricate parts in a fraction of the time it currently takes.

Alion engineers are building prototypes of a self-contained manufacturing unit called the Rapid Manufacturing System. This system enables engineers to create new parts or repair existing ones while drastically reducing the time it takes for sailors to receive parts or have equipment repaired. It should be able to reduce the time from weeks to a day.

The work is being done under a $1 million Navy task order awarded under the Advanced Repair Technology for the Expeditionary Navy contract vehicle.

Alion creates the new or fabricated parts by performing reverse engineering and then reprocessing, redesigning or re-engineering the parts and subassemblies to meet the Navy's needs. This work includes design and processing, engineering failure analysis and system integration.

Alion is building and testing shipboard and dockside prototypes with the goal of embedding a system able to handle harsh environmental conditions on ships.

Alion of McLean, Va., ranks No. 79 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.