From QR Codes to Digital Threads: The Impact of Authentise on Operator Tools in Additive Manufacturing
- Authentise Team
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Looking Back: 2019 and the Operator App
In 2019, Authentise announced the release of its mobile web application designed for additive manufacturing operators. The goal was simple but vital: extend the digital thread into post-processing. Operators could scan QR codes on travellers, track manual steps such as powder removal, inspection, and testing, and feed that data back into the wider workflow.
The release represented a turning point. For the first time, manual post-processing - often one of the most opaque and labour-heavy parts of additive manufacturing - could be captured digitally, contributing to traceability and enabling managers to monitor progress in real time.
As Authentise CEO Andre Wegner said at the time, “Manual process steps are tedious enough for operators; reporting their progress shouldn’t be.”
What’s Changed Since Then?
Fast forward to today, and the challenges of post-processing remain - but the tools to manage them have advanced dramatically.
Beyond QR Codes: While QR scans were the starting point, today’s Authentise operator solutions integrate seamlessly with a wide range of manual and automated processes. Digital travellers have evolved into a paperless workflow environment, enriched with attachments, notes, and approvals that create a complete audit trail.
Machine Learning & Predictions: In 2019, the operator app hinted at feeding process data into machine learning algorithms to improve time and quality estimates. Today, this capability has matured into Integrated Digital Twin (IDT) functionality, which uses live data to deliver more accurate predictions and real-time feedback loops.
Compliance-Ready Traceability: Five years ago, traceability was a differentiator. Now it’s a necessity - especially in aerospace and medical manufacturing. Authentise’s operator tools have evolved to support full regulatory compliance with transparent reporting and secure audit trails.
Connected Ecosystem: What began as an isolated app has since been folded into Authentise Flows and Authentise Threads, delivering complete visibility from quote to qualification. Operators, managers, and customers now share the same real-time view of progress.
What Hasn’t Changed?
Some things remain true today:
Operators still need simplicity. Manual reporting must be quick, easy, and non-disruptive.
Data is still the foundation. Capturing process data - whether automated or manual - remains the key to driving improvements in efficiency, quality, and compliance.
The mission hasn’t shifted. Authentise continues to focus on making operators’ lives easier while turning their work into actionable insights.
The Future of Operator Tools
What started with a simple QR code scan has become an integral piece of the digital manufacturing puzzle. Operator apps are no longer standalone tools; they are the gateway to fully connected, intelligent, and compliant additive workflows.
For organisations looking to reduce waste, pass audits, and scale additive manufacturing with confidence, operator-focused solutions are no longer optional - they’re essential.
If you’re interested in how operator data connects to wider workflows, check out our blog: How Software is Streamlining the AM Workflow.
Ready to see how Authentise’s operator tools can make your additive processes simpler, smarter, and more compliant?
