Building Capability in Qualification and Certification for Metal Additive Manufacturing

Twenty-five industry and research professionals came together at CSIRO’s Lab 22 last week to strengthen one of critical foundations for the future adoption of additive manufacturing (AM): qualification and certification.

Delivered by the ASTM Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence and supported by AMCRC, the two-day training course focused on the standards, requirements and pathways needed to qualify and certify metal AM parts for high-value-sectors such as defence and aerospace.

With a focus on Laser Powder Bed fusion (LPBF) and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), participants explored the practical steps involved in validation, verification, qualification, and certification. Through real world case studies and industry discussion, they gained a deeper understanding of how AM standards are applied in practice and how they fit within the broader manufacturing standards landscape.

A key theme throughout the course was the importance of qualified and certified processes in building confidence in AM. As organisations look to integrate AM into production environments and global supply chains, demonstrating that processes are reliable, repeatable and fit for purpose is essential.

Adelaide University’s Industry Professor Colin Hall, who serves as AMCRC’S Research Director – Defence, was among the participants. He noted that qualification and certification remain critical enablers for the growth of AM in Australia:

“To mature our additive manufacturing capability and engage with large scale supply chains Australian industry needs to transition establish qualified and certified processes which end-users can trust. This is currently a large barrier for AM growth.”

Participants also gained insight into the current state of AM standards, emerging developments and the direction the industry is heading. This knowledge will help organisations make more informed decisions as they develop, scale and commercialise their AM capabilities.

Beyond the technical content, the course highlighted another strength of Australia’s AM ecosystem: collaboration. Bringing together professionals from industry and research created valuable opportunities to share experiences, discuss common challenges and learn from one another. The willingness to collaborate and exchange knowledge remains one of the sector’s greatest assets and will be critical to accelerating adoption across industry.

The course included a tour of CSIRO’s Lab 22, giving participants a first-hand look at the facilities, technologies and research helping advance Australia’s additive manufacturing capability.