Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) are two important indicators used in the assessment of the maturity of a technology or product. TRL measures a product’s or technology’s technological readiness, while MRL assesses its manufacturing readiness. These measures provide valuable information to investors, project managers, and stakeholders about the maturity of a product or technology and its potential for commercialization.
The TRL scale ranges from 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest level of technological readiness, and 9 being the highest. NASA developed the TRL scale in the 1970s to assess the maturity of technologies that were being developed for space missions. Since then, it has been widely adopted in various industries as a tool to evaluate the maturity of a technology.
TRL measures the maturity of a technology based on its development and testing in a laboratory environment. It assesses whether the technology has been proven to work in a controlled environment and whether it is ready for the next stage of development or commercialization. TRL is usually assessed through a series of tests and demonstrations that simulate real-world conditions. These tests provide information about the performance of the technology and its ability to meet the needs of the end-users.
The TRL scale is divided into nine levels, each of which represents a different stage of development:
- Basic principles observed and reported
- Technology concept and/or application formulated
- Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept
- Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment
- Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment
- System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
- System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
- Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration
- Actual system proven through successful mission operations
The MRL scale, on the other hand, ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest level of manufacturing readiness and 10 being the highest. The US Department of Defense developed MRL to assess the manufacturing readiness of a technology or product. MRL measures the maturity of a technology or product based on its readiness for commercial production. It assesses whether the technology has been fully developed and is ready for manufacturing, including whether it is cost-effective, reliable, and can be produced at scale.
The MRL scale is divided into ten levels, each of which represents a different stage of manufacturing readiness:
- Basic manufacturing process capability established
- Manufacturing process concept formulated
- Manufacturing proof-of-concept demonstrated in a laboratory environment
- Manufacturing proof-of-concept demonstrated in a relevant environment
- Manufacturing process capability demonstrated in a relevant environment
- System/subsystem model or prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment
- System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
- Low-rate initial production demonstrated
- Full-rate production demonstrated
- In-service sustainment demonstrated
MRL is a valuable tool for assessing the readiness of a technology or product for commercial production. It provides information about the cost-effectiveness and reliability of a technology and its ability to be produced at scale. MRL is also useful for identifying potential manufacturing risks and for developing strategies to mitigate those risks.
Both TRL and MRL are important indicators for investors, project managers, and stakeholders to evaluate the readiness of a technology or product for further investment, development, or commercialization. While TRL measures the technological readiness of a product, MRL assesses its manufacturing readiness, which is critical for successful commercialization. The use of TRL and MRL scales helps ensure that products and technologies are thoroughly tested and proven before they are introduced to the market. This, in turn, can help reduce the risk of product failure and increase the chances of success in the market.
In addition, the use of TRL and MRL can also help develop technology roadmaps. These roadmaps can guide the development of a technology or product from its initial stages to its commercialization. By identifying the TRL and MRL levels that need to be achieved at each stage of development, technology roadmaps can help ensure that the development process is well-planned and efficient.
Another important use of TRL and MRL is in evaluating research and development (R&D) projects. TRL and MRL can help assess the progress of R&D projects and identify areas that need more attention or resources. By using TRL and MRL as evaluation tools, R&D projects can be more effectively managed, and resources can be allocated more efficiently.