Research Article(20260304)
Advancements in Process Monitoring and Control in Metal Additive Manufacturing: A Review
Purnima Gupta
Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, New Delhi
*Corresponding author’s Email: Purnimagupta57@gmail.com
Received 29 Oct 2025, Accepted 28 Feb 2026, Published online: 30 March 2026
Abstract
Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) is now a ground-breaking technology that enables the production of complex geometries at high material efficiency. The problem of process instability, formation of defects, and non-repeatability, however, restrict its scalability in industrial application. To overcome such challenges, the process monitoring and control systems have made and still making a great progress. The paper will present a review of the state-of-the-art monitoring techniques, sensor technologies, and control solutions in the metal additive manufacturing processes of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED). It discusses also the combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and multi-sensor data fusion. Further, problems, gaps in research and directions are also raised to help future studies with regard to intelligent and autonomous production systems.
Keywords
Metal Additive Manufacturing, Process Monitoring, Closed-loop Control, Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Machine Learning, Defect Detection, Smart Manufacturing