Diploma in Quality Standards for Military AM
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in quality standards for military additive manufacturing (AM). 8 modules covering the regulatory framework, feedstock quality, machine and process qualification, technical documentation, inspection and testing, quality systems and part certification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Quality Standards for Military AM — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £1,250 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the international regulatory framework for additive manufacturing.
Control the quality of feedstock.
Qualify machines and processes in accordance with standards.
Prepare part specifications and technical documentation.
Define inspection and test plans.
Implement quality systems in additive manufacturing organisations.
Plan the approval of additive parts on defence platforms.
Who it's for
- Additive manufacturing quality engineers working on defence components.
- Process qualification managers.
- Supplier auditors.
- Materials engineers moving into additive manufacturing.
- Certification specialists.
- Inspection technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO/ASTM 52900:2021 (additive manufacturing terminology)
- ISO/ASTM 52901:2017 (requirements for purchased AM parts)
- AWS D20.1/D20.1M:2019 (fabrication of metal components using AM)
- ASTM F3303 (process characteristics and performance for metal powder bed fusion)
- ISO/ASTM 52907 (feedstock materials: characterisation of metallic powders)
- ISO/ASTM 52941 (acceptance tests for laser beam powder bed fusion machines)
- ASTM E3166 (non-destructive testing of metal AM parts)
- EASA CM-S-008 (certification memorandum on additive manufacturing)
- Materialise Magics
- VGSTUDIO MAX
- Siemens NX
- Minitab
8 modules
1.1ISO/ASTM 52900 terminology1.2ISO/TC 261 and ASTM F42 committees1.3Structure of the ISO/ASTM 529xx series1.4America Makes standardisation roadmap1.5DoD additive manufacturing strategy1.6Navy and army guidelines1.7European Defence Agency initiatives1.8Part specification standards1.9Current regulatory gaps1.10Practical exercise: regulatory map of a metal part
2.1ASTM F3049 powder specification2.2Particle size distribution2.3Flowability and apparent density2.4Chemical composition and interstitials2.5Reuse according to ISO/ASTM 529072.6Storage and humidity2.7Batch traceability2.8Wire for WAAM2.9Polymer feedstocks2.10Laboratory: characterisation of a powder batch
3.1ISO/ASTM 52941 machine acceptance3.2IQ, OQ and PQ protocols3.3AWS D20.1 requirements3.4ASTM F3303 specification3.5Parameter freezing3.6Process monitoring3.7Witness specimens3.8Machine-to-machine variability3.9Process validation3.10Case study: IQ/OQ/PQ protocol
4.1ISO/ASTM 52910 design guidelines4.2ISO/ASTM 52915 AMF format4.3ISO/ASTM 52901 part specification4.4Criticality classification4.5Configuration management4.6Digital manufacturing data4.7Protection of the digital thread4.8Integration into PLM4.9Digital signature of files4.10Workshop: purchase specification for an additive part
5.1ISO/ASTM 52904 requirements5.2ASTM E3166 NDT guide5.3Computed tomography5.4Test specimens5.5Fatigue of additive parts5.6Density measurement5.7Surface roughness5.8Allowable values5.9Acceptance criteria5.10Practical exercise: test plan for a batch
6.1AS9100D applied to additive manufacturing6.2NADCAP audits of additive processes6.3AQAP-2110 requirements6.4Operator qualification to ISO/ASTM 529266.5First article inspection6.6Material review board6.7Supplier control6.8Quality indicators6.9Internal audit6.10Case study: audit of an additive supplier
7.1EASA CM-S-008 memorandum7.2The FAA approach7.3Military airworthiness criteria7.4Critical and non-critical parts7.5Additive repairs7.6Naval components7.7Land components7.8Lessons from programmes7.9Regulatory developments7.10Case study: approval route for a naval part
8.1Part selection8.2Applicable standards8.3Material specification8.4Machine and process qualification8.5Inspection plan8.6Quality system8.7Approval route8.8Risk analysis8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Materialise Magics, VGSTUDIO MAX, Siemens NX and Minitab, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for metal powder characterisation, qualification of powder bed machines and computed tomography inspection of parts. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: ISO/ASTM 52900:2021, ISO/ASTM 52901:2017, AWS D20.1/D20.1M:2019, ASTM F3303, ISO/ASTM 52907, ISO/ASTM 52941, ASTM E3166 and EASA CM-S-008.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Materialise Magics, VGSTUDIO MAX, Siemens NX and Minitab, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer capable of running the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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