WarRoom Battleground EP 783: Manufacturing Renaissance; Next Generation Of Digital Manufacturing

Release Date: June 5, 2025
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Guests: Kevin Zinger (Founder & Chairman of Divergent), JD Vance (Entrepreneur and Former Marine Corps Rifleman)

Introduction

In Episode 783 of WarRoom Battleground, host Stephen K. Bannon welcomes Kevin Zinger, the visionary founder and chairman of Divergent, and JD Vance, a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich background in both athletics and military service. The episode delves deep into the transformative potential of digital manufacturing technologies and their critical role in reinstating America's manufacturing prowess.

Setting the Stage: The Manufacturing Crisis

The conversation begins with Bannon expressing frustration over mainstream media narratives and highlighting the urgent need to revolutionize American manufacturing. He introduces Kevin Zinger, praising his extensive experience and innovative approach to modern manufacturing challenges.

Revolutionizing Manufacturing Through Digital Technologies

JD Vance elaborates on Divergent's groundbreaking approach to manufacturing:

"This is an extended range attack missile, otherwise known as a cruise missile. [...] Ten weeks later we had, using AI, generated the most advanced optimized design possible in an automated way, 3D printed it while reducing the number of parts you normally have, a couple hundred to less than a half dozen..."
[03:05]

Key Points:

• AI-Driven Design: Leveraging artificial intelligence to simulate and optimize designs rapidly.
• 3D Printing Efficiency: Transitioning from traditional manufacturing, which might require hundreds of parts, to fewer, more integrated components through 3D printing.
• Speed and Cost Reduction: Divergent's methods drastically cut down both the time and financial resources typically needed for product development.

JD Vance further explains how their system bypasses the protracted and expensive traditional Pentagon procurement processes:

"We could immediately go into full production when necessary."
[04:04]

Challenging China's Manufacturing Dominance

A significant portion of the discussion addresses the pressing concern of China's overwhelming industrial capacity:

"If you look at global manufacturing market share in 2000, the US had over 25%. China had about 7%. Today... projected global manufacturing market share for China over 40% versus 11%."
[06:54]

Insights:

• Declining U.S. Share: The U.S. manufacturing share has plummeted from over 25% in 2000 to an anticipated 11% by 2028 without decisive action.
• Aggressive Growth of China: China's market share is projected to surge beyond 40%, solidifying its position as a manufacturing hegemon.

Bannon and Vance argue that traditional methods, such as tariffs and re-establishing old manufacturing plants, are insufficient to counter this trend. Instead, adopting advanced digital manufacturing techniques offers a "leapfrog" strategy:

"We don’t need to bring back old style manufacturing, we need a leapfrog China strategy."
[08:05]

Divergent's Triple-A Approach: Design, Print, Assemble

JD Vance outlines Divergent's comprehensive manufacturing system, highlighting three core components:

1. Design Engineering:

   • Utilizes AI to simulate and perfect designs in a virtual environment.
   • Achieves optimal structures by minimizing material and energy use through algorithmic optimization.

2. 3D Printing:

   • Employs advanced 3D printers capable of producing complex structures with minimal parts.
   • Uses materials like aluminum alloy, titanium, and specialized steels to fabricate durable components.

3. Automated Assembly:

   • Features a universal assembler that can seamlessly integrate printed parts into final products.
   • Ensures rapid assembly times, often completing complex structures in minutes.

"Everything is getting calculated until it said everything worked through the full simulation, and it used the minimum amount of energy and material."
[13:03]

Defense Implications: Rapid Production of Military Hardware

The discussion pivots to the strategic advantages of Divergent's technology in the defense sector:

"Traditionally manufactured for something like say an anti-ship cruise missile, you might be able to build 4 or 500 a year. One of our printers can print 400 of those a year. 10 of those could do 4,000."
[42:03]

Key Takeaways:

• Scalability: Divergent's printers can exponentially increase production rates, transforming defense capability.
• Cost Efficiency: Unit costs of producing military hardware are significantly reduced, enabling larger quantities without proportionate financial burdens.
• Strategic Deterrence: Rapid production serves as a robust deterrent by quickly deploying extensive defensive measures against potential threats.

Overcoming Bureaucratic Hurdles

Despite the promising technology, JD Vance acknowledges the challenges posed by entrenched bureaucratic systems:

"The short answer is yes. [...] They are in a position where they're in a system and they're told this is the manual that tells you how to validate and do airworthiness for a process that's 75 years old."
[40:07]

Solutions Proposed:

• Policy Support: Strong backing from high-level officials, including the White House and Pentagon, is essential.
• Urgency in Implementation: Emphasizing the immediate need to adopt advanced manufacturing to preclude strategic disadvantages by 2027.

Catalyzing a Manufacturing Renaissance

Kevin Zinger discusses the broader economic and industrial implications:

"Imagine that this network of factories is sharing data and upgrading itself. And so you have permanent manufacturing footprints in those communities that just grow and learn."
[38:51]

Highlights:

• Localized Manufacturing: Establishing factories across various regions to reduce logistics and transportation times.
• Economic Revitalization: Creating sustainable jobs and manufacturing hubs that adapt and scale with technological advancements.
• Versatility: The system's design-agnostic nature allows it to produce a wide array of products, from automotive parts to advanced defense systems.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Stephen K. Bannon wraps up the episode by emphasizing the critical need for immediate action to adopt Divergent's manufacturing solutions. He underscores the potential for these technologies to not only restore but also propel America's manufacturing capabilities to unparalleled heights.

"We don’t have an hour to waste."
[46:37]

Final Remarks:

• Transformational Impact: Divergent's technology represents a pivotal shift in manufacturing, combining AI, 3D printing, and automated assembly to create a resilient and advanced industrial base.
• National Urgency: Addressing the manufacturing deficit is not just an economic imperative but a strategic necessity to safeguard national security against rising global threats.

Notable Quotes:

• JD Vance: "Absolute perfection. Pareto optimized perfection."
  [18:43]

• Stephen K. Bannon: "We don't have an hour to waste."
  [46:37]

• JD Vance: "There is absolutely [...] no reason why that shouldn't be done."
  [43:50]

Further Information

For those interested in exploring Divergent's innovative manufacturing solutions, visit their official website. Stay tuned for upcoming live factory floor tours and additional insights into the future of American manufacturing.

This summary captures the essence of Episode 783, focusing on the transformative technologies discussed, their applications in defense and commercial sectors, and the urgent call to action to adopt these innovations for national and economic revitalization.