Additive manufacturing disrupts the traditional manufacturing process by allowing for on-demand, on-site creation of parts and enabling a decentralized supply chain in which design and manufacturing are not necessarily co-located. This creates a digital flow of information from design file to finished product known as the “digital thread.” Vulnerabilities in the transmission of data may leave companies and government organizations open to cybersecurity attacks resulting in loss of revenue from intellectual property theft or safety and national security risks from counterfeit or maliciously modified parts. This presentation will discuss how digital distribution of information can be authenticated, transported and recorded, leading to a safer digital supply chain.
