ASME TechCast Additive Manufacturing’s Humble Beginnings at Ford
Nov 6, 2025
Jonné Messer, Ford's Global Additive Manufacturing Lead, shares her nearly 30-year journey in 3D printing. She recounts the DIY origins of additive manufacturing at Ford and its evolution. Jonné discusses the importance of attracting young talent through outreach programs and highlights the minimal representation of women in the industry. She emphasizes the need for persistent mentorship and confidence for women entering manufacturing while addressing challenges like standardization and scaling in additive manufacturing.
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Small Print, Big Savings
- A small 3D-printed hollow PLA puck replaced costly Delrin parts and stopped belt damage on a production line.
- Janae Messer and her team iterated by printing, testing, and redesigning until the fix eliminated downtime and big replacement costs.
From Closet Experiments To In-House CAD
- Messer and her team began secretly experimenting with a consumer 3D printer and outsourced CAD iterations from a friend.
- They learned to model themselves after slow iterations, which sped up problem-solving and design refinement.
Learn Fast, Then Learn Deep
- Use Google and YouTube to learn fundamentals, then take formal classes to understand why things happen.
- Enroll in CAD and AM courses to speed design work and move beyond trial-and-error.