Additive Manufacturing Standards Continue Advancing as ANSI and America Makes Release 2026 Progress Report

As additive manufacturing (AM) continues its transition from rapid prototyping to full-scale industrial production, the need for robust standards and qualification frameworks has become increasingly critical. In response to this growing demand, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and America Makes have released updated assessment of standards development activities across the rapidly evolving AM sector.

The report tracks progress on standardization gaps identified in the AMSC Standardization Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing, Version 3.0, a collaborative industry roadmap developed with contributions from approximately 300 experts representing government agencies, national laboratories, academia, standards organizations, and industrial stakeholders. The latest progress report updates the status of 35 out of the 141 previously identified gaps and reflects continuing efforts to establish safer, more reliable, and more repeatable AM production practices.

Why Standards Matter in Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing is now being adopted in highly demanding sectors including aerospace, defense, energy, automotive, and medical devices. In these industries, components are often safety-critical and must demonstrate consistent mechanical performance, traceability, and reliability regardless of where or how they are produced. Standards are therefore essential for enabling confidence in AM-produced parts, materials, and processes.

The 2026 report highlights progress across the complete AM workflow, including: (1) design and topology optimization, (2) feedstock and material qualification, (3) process monitoring and control, (4) post-processing and heat treatment, (5) qualification and certification, (6) data management and interoperability, and (7) nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and inspection.

Importantly, the report notes that no new standardization gaps were identified in this update, suggesting that the AM industry is steadily maturing and that ongoing efforts are effectively addressing previously recognized technical and procedural deficiencies.

The Critical Role of Nondestructive Testing and Inspection

Among the most important areas emphasized in the report is the role of nondestructive testing (NDT) and NDE in AM qualification and certification. Unlike conventional manufacturing methods, AM processes can introduce highly localized defects and process-induced anomalies such as porosity, lack of fusion, cracking, residual stress, and geometric inconsistencies. Detecting and characterizing these defects without damaging the component is essential for ensuring structural integrity and long-term reliability.

Advanced NDT technologies—including X-ray computed tomography (CT), phased-array ultrasonics (PAUT), thermography, eddy current testing, acoustic methods, and in situ monitoring systems— are increasingly being integrated into AM workflows. These technologies support process qualification and validation, real-time process monitoring, detection of internal discontinuities, dimensional verification, structural health assessment, and certification of safety-critical components.

The report reinforces the importance of harmonized standards for NDT methodologies, inspection data management, and qualification procedures to support widespread industrial adoption of AM technologies.

A Living Framework for Industry Advancement

Unlike a fixed consensus standard, the AMSC progress report functions as a dynamic and continuously evolving reference document. It provides visibility into ongoing standards development activities while helping coordinate efforts among industry, regulatory bodies, and standards organizations. This collaborative approach reduces duplication, accelerates standard adoption, and supports alignment across different AM sectors and technologies.

The initiative also reflects the increasing recognition that AM standardization extends beyond manufacturing processes alone. It encompasses digital workflows, cybersecurity, data integrity, workforce qualification, certification pathways, sustainability considerations, and inspection methodologies, all of which are essential for scalable industrial deployment.

Looking Ahead

As AM technologies become more integrated into production environments, the importance of standards-based qualification and inspection will continue to grow. The 2026 AMSC Gaps Progress Report demonstrates significant momentum toward building a mature and globally accepted AM standards ecosystem capable of supporting reliable, repeatable, and certifiable manufacturing.

By advancing standardization efforts across the full AM lifecycle—particularly in qualification and NDE—ANSI, America Makes, and the broader AM community are helping establish the technical foundation necessary for the next generation of advanced manufacturing innovation.