Advanced manufacturing methods (AMM) have the potential to transform the nuclear industry by
producing high quality components faster and cheaper, and enhancing the performance of current
operating plants and advanced reactors. AMM could also be used to quickly supply replacement parts
for obsolete components and to reduce warehouse inventories.
A number of companies are preparing to use AMM to fabricate components for current operating plants
and future advanced reactors. However, a lack of clarity on the regulatory pathways, and on the ability
to gain timely regulatory approval (if it is needed), for AMM fabricated nuclear components are potential
barriers to their use. A manufacturing method is identified in this report as being “advanced” if it has not
yet been utilized to fabricate components for the nuclear industry, even though some of these methods are
currently being used in other industries.