asproduced

Asproduced, often written with a hyphen as as-produced or simply as produced, refers to the state of a material, component, or part immediately after fabrication or processing, before any post-processing, finishing, or conditioning is applied. It describes the properties and conditions that arise from the production method itself, without deliberate alteration by subsequent treatment.

The term is used across engineering and manufacturing disciplines to contrast inherent results of a process with later modifications. In metals and ceramics, as-produced characteristics may include surface roughness, microstructure, residual stresses, porosity, and density. In plastics and composites, it can denote the as-processed surface finish, cure state, or distribution of fillers. In additive manufacturing, “as-produced” or “as-built” parts refer to components as they come off the printer before post-processing steps such as support removal, surface finishing, or heat treatment. The concept is also relevant for powders, where as-produced particle size distribution, chemistry, and morphology are specified before processing.

As-produced properties are often used in qualification, performance prediction, and quality control, providing a baseline against which post-processing improvements or modifications are measured. They can determine the suitability of a part for a given application and influence decisions about processing routes, tolerances, and inspection methods. Because spelling varies, standards and publications may use as-produced, as-produced, or as produced, depending on the style guide. Related terms include as-built, as-delivered, and post-processed.