Quality management

Quality management

Additive Manufacturing Processes (AMP) are no longer limited to Rapid Prototyping but are increasingly used for serial manufacturing of final products. The reason for this lies in the specific properties of AMP that combine highly flexible production from single part to small and medium series with highly reduced fixed costs and efficient material input

However, before additive manufactured final products can be used product safety questions have to be answered. For many conventionally manufactured products a code of standards for quality assurance has evolved concerning all measurement and test methods as well as measurement equipment and qualification of testing personnel. For AMP the progress has just begun. Ensuring reproducible product quality and verifying product safety are the two most important requirements for establishing AMP. According to legal requirements, if validated and certified materials, manufacturing processes and test methods are missing AMP are not allowed to be used in many fields.

Together with regional and national partners GMBU e.V. develops methods for Quality Assurance (QA) in additive manufacturing in the context of network “Qualitätsmanagement und Digitalisierung in der additiven Fertigung” (QMD-3D, Quality Management and Digitalisation in Additive Manufacturing). The focus of the network is on the development of technical solutions, processes and strategies for a comprehensive QA in additive manufacturing. The joint research includes specification, monitoring and optimization of materials and manufacturing processes and extends to the non-destructive testing of the final product. Furthermore automated evaluation methods for identifying and classifying of process and part deficiencies as well as suited simulation methods and models for supporting measurement data analysis and prediction of part properties are needed. With this AMP will both enter new fields of application and have a basis for comprehensive standardization.