AMCC initiative by ASTM International aims to standardize additive manufacturing certification

ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE), along with numerous industry partners, has launched the AM CoE Additive Manufacturing Certification Committee (AMCC) initiative. The AMCC is composed of only representatives from AM end-users.

According to an ASTM press statement, the mission of AMCC is to bring key stakeholders together from across multiple industry sectors to collaborate on audit criteria to qualify AM supply chains. The development will reportedly be based on published international standards and industry best practices. The committee members worked together for nearly a year to develop audit criteria comprising standardized requirements to qualify an AM facility. The first version of the audit criteria is in its final stages of completion.

“The work of the AMCC enables a better understanding of the capabilities of additive manufacturing suppliers amidst the rapid growth of providers in this technology area,” says Melissa Orme, vice-president of additive manufacturing at The Boeing Company.

The founding committee currently comprises 23 members, including Ford Motor Company, Lockheed Martin, and Johnson & Johnson.

“The efforts of the Additive Manufacturing Certification Committee stand to benefit our industry. The AMCC provides a great platform for end users across multiple sectors to collaboratively address common qualification challenges in additive manufacturing,” says Joseph Murphy, associate fellow at Lockheed Martin

Multi-industry participation in AMCC brings in the best practices that the major industry sector adopts for qualification and certification of the production of parts. The audit criteria created by the AMCC aim to satisfy multi-industry sector requirements and can be used by organizations to qualify their suppliers, or their internal additive manufacturing facilities.

“Developing certification criteria is a detailed and resource-intensive process, but the resulting value for our organization and the industry as a whole will be substantial,” notes Eddie Kavanagh, senior principal engineer at Johnson & Johnson. “The AM CoE, along with ASTM International, has created a program that will deliver significant benefits, and we are glad to contribute to this endeavour.”

The AMCC is responsible for developing, deploying, and maintaining the audit criteria, and managing the certification program.

“Establishing a standardized certification for Additive Manufacturing (AM) service providers will help streamline industry efforts to develop a robust AM supply chain,” says Paul Wolcott, senior engineer for additive manufacturing at General Motors. “We look forward to providing an automotive-industry voice as the AMCC works to develop its requirements.”

The AMCC will reportedly continue to advance comprehensive checklists for additive manufacturing, to evolve the field and ensure robust and reliable supply chains.

The ASTM AM CoE offers certification programs that complement the AMCC by covering the entire additive manufacturing value chain. The existing certification programs include the Additive Manufacturing Quality Certification (AMQC) for process quality assurance, Additive Manufacturing Operator Certification (AMOC) for qualified operators of metal laser powder bed fusion machines, and Additive Manufacturing Facility Safety Certification (AMFSC) for ensuring a safe and compliant facility.