The NextGen Materials Standards Platform (NMSP): Accelerating Qualification and Innovation
A data-driven initiative developed by ASM International and funded by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to modernize material certification and strengthen sustainable government and industry R&D.
The process of managing materials standards and issuing Certificates of Performance has historically been slow, complex and opaque. The NextGen Materials Standards Platform (NMSP) was developed to address these inefficiencies, transforming materials qualification from a manual workflow into a streamlined, data-centric process.
This initiative directly supports ARL’s mandate to ensure funded research leads to sustainable industry R&D aligned with commercially relevant outcomes. NMSP is designed as a long-term solution that benefits all stakeholders.
The NMSP report has successfully passed OPSEC clearance through the Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), confirming its readiness for public release. ASM is actively seeking collaboration and investment from government agencies and industry partners interested in expanding the platform’s capabilities.
NMSP functions as a dynamic software platform for material evaluation, leveraging advanced data science to enhance decision-making and accelerate standards management.
- Initial Use-Case (Proof of Concept): The platform launches with an adhesives use-case, providing an end-to-end demonstration of accelerated standards management.
- Adaptability and Scale: The platform is designed to be immediately adaptable and scalable across diverse material sectors beyond the initial use-case.
Advanced Data Framework Integration
A key component of NMSP is its integration with the ASCENDS machine learning framework, designed to support scientists and engineers – even those without extensive data science backgrounds.
- Advanced data analysis
- Validated predictive modeling, including Uncertainty Quantification (UQ)
- Efficient exploration of material design spaces
A platform demonstration video highlights how NMSP accelerates materials qualification, integrates historical data, and supports decision-making across government and industry workflows.
| Audience | Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Partners | Accelerated Pathway to Market | Faster, more transparent route to Certificates of Performance. |
| Government Agencies | Streamlined Qualification | Reduced time and effort to validate and approve materials. |
| R&D Engineers / Scientists | Access to Prior Results | Faster innovation through historical performance data. |
| Collaboration | Gov-Industry Partnership | Secure, shared platform enabling collaboration and technology transfer. |