ARM Institute Members vary in their focus areas, sizes, and history, but one common thread unites each organization: a drive to build the future of US manufacturing. Each of member organization leverages their strengths and areas of expertise to secure a brighter future for the US workforce, a stronger Organic Industrial Base (OIB), and a more resilient manufacturing economy.
For this month’s five questions piece, we chatted with Craig Wellons, President & CEO of ReadyOne Industries. Get to know Craig’s background, how ARM Members can collaborate with ReadyOne Industries, the ways ReadyOne contributes to defense readiness, their unique approach to workforce development, and more in the interview below!
1. We always like to start by exploring our expert’s background! Can you tell us about your professional background, your role at ReadyOne, and an overview of ReadyOne?
My career has been rooted in operations and finance. Before joining ReadyOne, I spent more than 20 years in manufacturing, including furniture manufacturing in both the U.S. and Mexico running plants, building teams, and learning what it takes to deliver quality at scale. I later transitioned to ReadyOne and served in several senior leadership roles, including Controller and CFO, then President/COO, and ultimately was promoted to President and CEO by our Board. ReadyOne is a mission-driven manufacturer based in El Paso, Texas. Our vision is “Protecting Military Heroes, One Stitch at a Time.” We deliver high-quality protective garments for the U.S. military while creating meaningful employment opportunities for people who are blind or who have other significant disabilities.
2. Congratulations on ReadyOne’s recent $5.7M Defense Contract! Can you tell us more about the work you do for the defense industry and our warfighters?
This award supports production of Flame Resistant Army Combat Uniforms (FRACU) 45,000 units over 12 months, totaling $5.7M and supporting approximately 37 FTEs for execution.
More broadly, ReadyOne supports the defense industrial base through programs where quality and delivery are non-negotiable. We manufacture protective and mission-critical garments that help keep warfighters safe and ready. When we ramp production, we do it with discipline strong systems, effective training, and quality controls that hold up under real operational demand.
3. You have a unique approach to building your workforce at ReadyOne with 75% of your direct labor performed by employees who are blind or who have other significant disabilities. Can you tell us more about your AbilityOne Program and why ReadyOne uses this approach?
ReadyOne participates in the AbilityOne Program, which requires that 75% of direct labor hours be performed by people with significant disabilities.
We chose this model because it aligns with who we are. We believe people with disabilities deserve real jobs, real standards, and real opportunities while we deliver real performance for our customers. This is not charity. It is capability, built the right way, with the right support, training, and expectations.
4. How is ReadyOne looking to collaborate with other ARM Members and what would you like other Members to know about your work?
We joined the ARM Institute to work with Members who can turn advanced manufacturing into deployed solutions. Here is where collaboration makes sense for us right now:
- AI and automation that improve throughput, scheduling, and quality tools that work in real production environments, not just in a lab.
- Connected worker tools and training solutions that help people perform complex work with fewer errors and faster learning—especially important in an inclusive workforce.
- Modern production systems and digital infrastructure that make output repeatable, scalable, and measurable.
- Pilot partnerships for real-world deployment. We are actively looking for partners who want to develop and validate automation and AI-enabled production solutions. ReadyOne has the facility, workforce, and operating processes to support pilots in a live manufacturing environment so if a company has a concept, tool, or prototype they want tested and proven at scale, we can be a strong execution partner.
What I’d like other members to know is this: we will be a strong partner, and we will also be direct. We want pilots that prove value quickly, with clear metrics and a path to sustainment.
5. Why did ReadyOne decide to join the ARM Institute Member Consortium and how did you learn about the ARM Institute?
We joined the ARM Institute because it sits at the intersection of what matters most to us: defense readiness, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development. We are building scalable operating systems, and we want to be part of a consortium that helps move automation, robotics, and AI from ideas into real production environments.
We learned about the ARM Institute in two ways. First, several of our Board members recommended it as a place we should be plugged in. Second, as we pursued new technology and automation opportunities and engaged with innovators in the space, we kept being led back to the ARM Institute
Bonus Question: ReadyOne was a sponsor of our 2025 ARM Institute Member Meeting. We appreciated your support of our event! Can you tell us why you decided to sponsor the Member Meeting and value you gained from participating in our event?
We sponsored the Member Meeting because we saw it as an opportunity to be at the tip of the spear; helping accelerate automation and technology adoption that can strengthen garment manufacturing. It also aligns with the bigger mission: building capability that strengthens American manufacturing and supports national security.
The value we gained was straightforward: knowledge and relationships. We leave with a clearer view of what is real, what is next, and who we should be working with to move faster.
Join ReadyOne Industries & Our 480+ Member Organization in Building the Future of US Manufacturing
ARM Institute Members lead the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to develop and produce the world’s most desired products. By becoming a member of our 480+ member organization consortium, you’ll join thousands of subject matter experts in building the future of US manufacturing through robotics, AI, and workforce innovations. Your membership to our robotics institute unlocks not only access to member-exclusive events and webinars, including our Annual Member Meeting, but also project funding opportunities, project outputs, networking, a digital platform for collaboration, and more.
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ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique and robust consortium of 450+ members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, the ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people & robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).