At an EmpowerAX community workshop on 29 October 2026, Qualified AM argued that fibre-reinforced additive manufacturing only scales when qualification is built in from the start. The discussion linked the choice of application, part design, process maturity, digital control and verification into one chain.
What path to scale did the workshop outline?
Participants described a sequence: a sound application, a part designed for the process, a matured production process, digital monitoring and control, then verification and qualification, and finally scale. Technology progress alone was seen as insufficient.
Where does qualification fit?
Rather than a closing step, qualification is meant to run alongside development. Process monitoring and production data can serve as evidence, supporting a controlled, qualified process space for repeatable output.
What it means
For smaller European manufacturers, the message is practical: plan evidence collection and monitoring while the process is still being developed, not after the first customer audit. That can cut rework and shorten the road to serial parts. The workshop produced a framework, not data, so timelines remain case specific. It fits the recent Tongtai certification story under Qualified AM.
Frequently asked questions
Who took part in the workshop?
Qualified AM contributed as part of the EmpowerAX community, which will continue the collaboration.
What is the main claim?
Qualification should enable industrial scale and not slow it down, so it must be integrated early.
