Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL)

• Origin: Developed by the US Department of Defense (DoD) and formally adopted in 2005 to improve manufacturing outcomes for defense systems, building on TRL concepts.

• Definition: A framework to assess the maturity of manufacturing processes, risks, and capabilities, ensuring a technology can be produced at scale efficiently and cost-effectively.

• Scale: Ranges from 1 to 10:

  • MRL 1: Basic manufacturing implications identified.

  • MRL 2-4: Manufacturing concepts explored and feasibility assessed.

  • MRL 5-7: Capability to produce prototypes in lab (MRL 5) and relevant environments (MRL 6-7).

  • MRL 8: Pilot line capability demonstrated.

  • MRL 9: Low-rate production demonstrated.

  • MRL 10: Full-rate production with lean practices and continuous improvement.