First specification for quality assurance in Additive Manufacturing

The newly published DIN SPEC 17071 is the first standard to address quality assurance in Additive Manufacturing. It defines standardised requirements for systems, materials, processes and employees. Companies can use the specification to minimise risks and establish industrial-scale production. The standard is an initiative by Deutsche Bahn, MT Aerospace, Siemens and certification organisation TÜV SÜD, and can be viewed at the latter's trade fair stand at formnext in Frankfurt up to 22 November (Hall 11.1, Stand E60).

In the past, obstacles in the way of establishing industrial-scale Additive Manufacturing have been missing standards, technological maturity largely still in its early stages, and lack of experience with the methods used. Further challenges, in addition to high production volumes, include product quality. Standardised strength values and dimensions are of paramount importance, particularly in sensitive industries such as aerospace, rail and medical engineering. “The new standard enables manufacturers to establish risk minimisation and quality assurance for industrial-scale additive manufacturing in only six months”, says Gregor Reischle, Head of Additive Manufacturing at TÜV SÜD. “In the past, this has sometimes taken many years.”

DIN SPEC 17071 summarises the state of the art in Additive Manufacturing and is easy to implement as it includes component- and/or product-specific quality requirements. As Gregor Reischle explains, “This really helps users as it enables complete and reliable requirements specifications to be prepared, thereby significantly facilitating collaboration with material suppliers or contract manufacturers.” Where over 200 different variables once had to be considered, the new standard now significantly reduces this number. Conformity with the remaining product-specific requirements can then be achieved in a targeted and predictable manner. Benefits include minimisation of the number of necessary supplier audits and simplified component purchasing.

The standard has been designed as a cross-industry standard and serves as the precursor to an international ISO/ASTM standard. It was presented officially on 15 November 2019 at Beuth publishing house and is available as a free download at www.beuth.de. At 9.30 each day at its stand at formnext, TÜV SÜD will offer a 30-minute introduction to the DIN SPEC 17071 specification aimed at media representatives and specialist visitors.

TÜV SÜD training on DIN SPEC 17071

Quality and product management training (10 – 11 December 2019 in Munich)
Training for quality managers and production managers addressing how to implement processes according to DIN SPEC 17071 in companies.

Industry standards in additive manufacturing (12 December 2019 in Stuttgart)
Compact knowledge on additive manufacturing, including insights into DIN SPEC 17071 and further standards, for purchasing agents, quality management and production planners.

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First specification for quality assurance in Additive Manufacturing

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