About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Frontiers of Materials Award Symposium: Science at the Frontier of Engineering: Qualification and Certification of Metal Additive Manufacturing
|
| Presentation Title |
Qualification and Certification Challenges for Additive Manufacturing: A PathForward for Critical Applications |
| Author(s) |
Alison M. Park, Timothy W Simpson |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Alison M. Park |
| Abstract Scope |
The adoption of Additive Manufacturing (AM) for high-consequence applications isfundamentally dependent on robust qualification and certification processes. These processesensure the reliable and repeatable production of components that are truly "fit for service." AsAM technology matures, its governing frameworks must also evolve, particularly in safety-critical sectors. This presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of the disparate AMqualification and certification pathways currently being developed and implemented acrossvarious high-consequence industries.We highlight key distinctions between regulatory-driven models and more collaborativeapproaches that involve regulators, users, and producers. The presentation also comparesperformance-based qualification, which focuses on a final part’s performance requirements, withprocess-focused methodologies, which emphasize tight control over AM processing parameters. The presentation will dissect how differences in part criticality—from low-to-high to flight- critical—dictate the risk assessment and qualification requirements. This reveals how the potential consequences of an AM failure, which can range from personal injury in medical applications to catastrophic loss of life in aviation and threats to national security in defense, directly influence the rigor and scope of a qualification pathway. We conclude by examining the differences in technical and programmatic authority across various agencies and their impact on the pace of AM adoption and standardization. This comparative study provides valuable insights for establishing a more harmonized and effective global framework for AM qualification in critical applications. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: None Selected |