Why AM Compliance Is So Hard - and How to Simplify It

Cracking the Code of AM Compliance: Why It's So Hard - and How to Fix It

Additive manufacturing (AM) is redefining how we produce complex, high-performance parts. But in safety-critical sectors like aerospace and medical, that potential is often slowed by one major hurdle: compliance.

Despite advancements in design freedom and on-demand production, manufacturers face a maze of regulations, validation steps, and documentation requirements. For many, it's the single greatest blocker to full-scale deployment.

So why is AM compliance so complicated - and what can we do to fix it?

Why AM Compliance Is So Resource-Intensive

Manufacturing parts for aerospace or medical use means proving - without doubt - that they meet the highest quality standards. Unlike traditional manufacturing, AM introduces variables like:

• New materials with limited long-term data

• Layer-by-layer variations during build

• Non-destructive testing limitations

As a result, regulatory bodies demand extensive validation:

• Full traceability of machines, materials, and operators

• In-situ process monitoring (optical tomography, etc.)

• Secure data logs for audit trails

• Repeatability across builds and sites

And all of this needs to be delivered fast, without compromising quality.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Without airtight compliance, the risks are significant:

• Delays to part certification and deployment

• Increased overhead from manual data entry and audits

• Part recalls or rejections, impacting revenue and reputation

• Slow adoption of AM in high-stakes industries

One aerospace customer described needing up to 90% of their team’s time just to prepare documentation for a single audit. That’s time not spent innovating.

A Digital Thread to the Rescue

What if your compliance process was automated, real-time, and integrated?

That’s exactly what Authentise Flows delivers: A fully traceable, digital workflow engine that captures every action and datapoint in your AM process - automatically.

• 🔍 Machine data captured directly and stored securely

• 🧩 Full material traceability through Materials Management

• 🧾 Custom dashboards and automated compliance reports

• 🔄 Integration with your quality management systems (QMS)

Instead of compiling evidence after production, Authentise builds your digital audit trail as you go.

Real Results from Real Users

One Authentise user in the aerospace sector reduced part documentation prep time by over 70% - just by automating data capture and validation steps. Another medical device client accelerated their certification timeline by weeks, thanks to real-time process analytics.

And these aren't isolated cases.

Related Read:

👉 How Software is Streamlining the AM Workflow.

Final Thoughts: Compliance Shouldn’t Be a Roadblock

Additive manufacturing is too valuable to be slowed by paperwork. With the right digital infrastructure, you can reduce compliance burden, increase confidence, and accelerate adoption.

Let’s make it happen.

👉 Explore Authentise Flows further or Book a Demo today.