DETERMINATION OF A LIFE DEFINING QUANTITY

A method of determining a life defining quantity of a production component (100, 200) manufactured by an additive manufacturing process. The method comprises the step of defining a plurality of components (100, 200, 300) to be manufactured by an additive manufacturing technique. The plurality of components (100, 200, 300) comprises a first test piece (310) and a first production component (100). The method further comprises manufacturing the components in the same manufacturing batch using an additive manufacturing process and with nominally the same material composition and build parameters. A characteristic mechanical property of the first test piece (310) is then determined. The method further comprises determining a value of a life defining quantity of the first production component (100) as a function of the first test piece (310) characteristic mechanical property. The first production component (100) and first test piece (310) are then provided with indicators (340, 341) which associate the first production component (100) with the determined life defining quantity.