Qualification and Certification for Production Work

Conference Abstract: In the rapidly advancing additive manufacturing (AM) industry where adoption is growing, service bureaus must exceed expectations to meet the highly regulated customers' quality and certification needs. Whether the job is for aerospace, automotive, or any other sector utilizing AM for end-use parts, mechanically functional applications require careful attention to ensure that the product delivered meets every requirement and will function as intended, especially with the inherent variability of Additive Manufacturing. Although this has been the standard for many years in other manufacturing industries, AM providers must overcome new challenges that accompany AM's numerous benefits in prototyping and DfAM-optimized end-use products.

In this presentation, Jim Wise will cover high-level qualifications and the systems and processes needed to overcome this multifaceted challenge. He will discuss standards and methodologies at the business, process, and part level, which many people may need to realize is required for a neatly wrapped part shipped with a Certificate of Conformance (CofC). These methodologies include material testing, dimensional analysis, coordinating hands-on work, data security, and more. When customer safety is at hand, we must take many layers of consideration.

Whether you are exploring AM for end-use parts or are a prospective manufacturer, join us for an information-packed presentation on expectations of production-level work!