Tools give manufacturers, regulators, and researchers a clearer view of the standards behind safe, consistent 3D-printed parts—and where work remains

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Additive manufacturing (AM) is changing how the world makes everything from heart valves to jet engine components. Standards are what allow these innovations to move from prototype to production — safely and at scale. Today, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and America Makes launched two new resources to make AM standards easier to find and track: a searchable online standards database and the September 2026 Gaps Progress Report. Both come from the Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative (AMSC), jointly led by ANSI and America Makes.

As AM moves into aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and defense, manufacturers, regulators, and customers need to know that parts made by different companies, on different machines, will perform consistently and safely. The new database and progress report show what standards exist today, what is underway, and where gaps remain—so industry can put existing solutions to work and focus effort where it’s needed most.

Additive Manufacturing Standards Database: A New Way to Navigate the AM Standards Landscape

The new Additive Manufacturing Standards Database, hosted on the ANSI website, helps users quickly identify existing standards activity across the AM lifecycle, industry sectors, and standards developing organizations. Users can search by keyword or sort and filter results by material, process, standard type, and other criteria. Access is free after completing a brief online form, and the database will be updated regularly.

The database draws on input to the AMSC roadmap and gaps progress reports, public calls for comment, and research into publicly available information, including standards developers’ work programs.

Tracking Progress on Standardization Gaps

The September 2026 Gaps Progress Report provides updates on five of the 141 standardization gaps identified in the AMSC’s Standardization Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing, Version 3.0—a foundational document developed with input from approximately 300 experts across federal agencies, national laboratories, standards developing organizations, industry, and academia. The update identified no new gaps.

The progress report is a living document. It will be updated and republished periodically as standards work advances, until the AMSC publishes the next version of its roadmap. The next progress report is anticipated in April 2027.

“Additive manufacturing is moving fast, and the standards that support it have to keep pace,” said Christine Bernat, director of standards facilitation at ANSI. “Through the AMSC, we’re bringing the AM community together to see the full picture—what’s in place, what’s in progress, and where to focus next.”

About the AMSC

The AMSC is a cross-sector coordinating body that accelerates the development of industry-wide additive manufacturing standards and specifications, working to align efforts across stakeholders so the AM industry can grow with confidence.

To receive future updates, suggest edits, or get involved in AMSC activities, indicate interest when accessing the report or email amsc@ansi.org. For more information, visit www.ansi.org/amsc.

About America Makes

America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, and workforce and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of War’s National Manufacturing Innovation Institute for AM and the first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). Learn more at americamakes.us.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership comprises businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.

The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org and access the latest news and content on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook. 

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SOURCE American National Standards Institute