Ensuring 3D Asset Traceability: A Guide for Aerospace and Medical Additive Manufacturing
- Authentise Team
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Ensuring Full Traceability of 3D Assets in Aerospace and Medical Sectors
In highly regulated industries like Aerospace and Medical, "good enough" data is a liability. When a part is destined for a jet engine or a human hip, traceability is not just a checkbox -it is a legal mandate.
The challenge? Traditional manufacturing workflows are often fragmented. If your material data lives in a spreadsheet, your machine logs on a USB, and your post-processing records in a paper binder, your "traceability" is an audit nightmare waiting to happen.
The Foundation: Moving Beyond Manual Record-Keeping
To meet standards like AS9100 (Aerospace) or ISO 13485 (Medical), you must prove the "genealogy" of every part. This requires a seamless link between three critical data points:
Material Genealogy: Tracking powder batches, including recycled-to-virgin ratios and lab test results.
Process Telemetry: Recording the exact machine parameters, sensor data, and environmental conditions during the build.
The Digital Thread: Ensuring the "as-manufactured" part corresponds exactly to the approved "as-designed" version.
1. Automating the Digital Birth Certificate
The "Digital Birth Certificate" is the gold standard for traceability. Instead of manually compiling reports after the part is finished, Authentise creates this record in real-time.
As the part moves through the workflow, the system automatically pulls data from the machine APIs. If a sensor detects a temperature spike or a recoater error, that "event" is instantly tied to the part's unique ID. This eliminates human error and ensures that your records are always audit-ready.
2. Solving the "Powder Management" Puzzle
In Aerospace, knowing which batch of powder went into which build is crucial. Authentise tracks material throughout its lifecycle - from the moment it arrives at the dock to its various "lives" as it is sieved and reused.
The Result: A clear, automated map of material consumption that satisfies even the strictest FDA or FAA inspector.
3. Managing Post-Processing and Inspection
Traceability doesn't stop when the printer lid opens. For medical implants, the heat treatment and sterilisation cycles are just as important as the print itself.
Integrated Workflow: By using an MES (Manufacturing Execution System), you can force-function "Quality Gates." This means a part cannot move to shipping until the technician digitally confirms the heat-treat parameters and attaches the inspection report.
Why "Disconnected Data" is Your Biggest Risk
If you are managing your assets across multiple disconnected platforms, you are creating "data silos." During an audit, these silos make it impossible to prove that the part in the box is the exact part that passed inspection.
As we highlighted in our pillar post, Maximising Efficiency and Innovation with Additive Manufacturing Workflow Software, Security and Compliance are non-negotiable for industrial AM. A unified software platform doesn't just manage the workflow; it protects the integrity of your 3D assets.
Conclusion: Audit-Ready, Every Day
For Aerospace and Medical sectors, traceability should be a byproduct of your workflow, not an extra task for your engineers. By automating data collection with Authentise, you move from defensive record-keeping to strategic production.
Are you prepared for your next regulatory audit?
Book a Demo today to see how we can get you audit ready!
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