Manish Sharma · Industrial AI & Decision Systems
Head of AI & R&D at Exafuse
I build integrated LMD control systems and lead additive-manufacturing projects. My work connects models, simulations and path planning with cameras, sensors, process data and live control.
For Exafuse's Duisburg bridge-component project in 2024, I led monitoring and process-control work that enabled unattended builds and coordinated the overall project timeline.
LMD/DED process development · Machine vision and robotics · WAAM collaboration
Manish Sharma
Industrial AI & Decision Systems
Current proving ground: LMD/DED
Engineering, research and delivery
Exafuse · Ruhr University Bochum
Project responsibility
In a small manufacturing team, I work across the interfaces between engineering, operations and commercial delivery.
Part requirements, CAD, sourcing, quotations, and cost and price considerations.
LMD/DED process development, control-system work, sensing and robotic workflows.
Camera and sensor integration, process analytics, calibration and quality checks.
Build documentation, team coordination and delivery through to shipment.
Selected delivery · Duisburg · 2024
In 2024, I led process monitoring and control work that enabled unattended builds for Exafuse's Duisburg bridge-component project, and coordinated the overall project timeline. Testing was outside my role.
Exafuse's published project includes structural nodes and handrail elements. It connects CAD adaptation, deposition planning, long-duration production, monitoring and independent project-specific validation support.
Project scale: Exafuse's published record. Personal role and unattended-build outcome: my professional account.
Selected work
Integrated manufacturing systems
System development and doctoral research
I built an integrated LMD control system covering modelling, simulation, path planning, camera and sensor monitoring, software, data processing and live control. This work forms part of my doctoral thesis. It combines the physical process with the software and data needed to operate it.
Explore the LMD/DED workCollaborative research
Lead for the company's contribution
I lead our company contribution to BreitbahnDED and helped develop and write the project proposal. My responsibilities connect manufacturing requirements, monitoring and software work with university research. I also work with Ruhr University Bochum on new research proposals.
Read the Exafuse project articlePublic technical work
Engineering knowledge made inspectable
My public work includes a portable brief for LMD/DED engineering questions, technical notes and a research publication on lattice-structure deposition. The tools make assumptions and evidence needs explicit; physical inspection remains essential.
Read the LMD Decision BriefDelivered software
Website development
I built Exafuse's website. It brings industrial services, technical case studies and enquiry-preparation tools into a public interface for engineering customers.
View the delivered websiteKnowledge exchange
Invited teaching and engineering contributions
I give recurring invited guest lectures at ISRO in a personal capacity. I also advise ISRO teams on additive manufacturing and contribute to WAAM machine development for rocket-nozzle manufacturing.
Technical advisory work
I advise teams at Tata Steel and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Haridwar on additive manufacturing, drawing on my experience in process development, monitoring and manufacturing workflows.
Professional background
Jan 2024 – Present
Exafuse, Bochum
I lead R&D and manufacturing projects from sourcing and CAD through processing, monitoring, quality checks and shipment. In our small team, I share operational responsibility and prepare quotations and cost comparisons. I have been involved since the company's inception.
Jan 2020 – Dec 2023
Exafuse, Bochum
Developed machine-vision monitoring systems, neural-network feature extraction and automation interfaces for LMD, including vision-based height sensing and robotic toolpath work.
Dec 2017 – Jun 2021
Ruhr University Bochum
Research Assistant from December 2017 to December 2019, followed by Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter from January 2020 to June 2021. Research covered LMD vision systems, machine learning and lattice-structure deposition.
Research and education
Ruhr University Bochum
Research work completed in vision-based LMD process control with Artificial Intelligence. Thesis at submission stage; PhD expected in 2027. Since March 2020.
Ruhr University Bochum
April 2017 – January 2020. Faculty Prize / Best Student recognition. Thesis on machine-learning approaches in LMD lattice structures.
Rajasthan Technical University, India
May 2012 – June 2016. Gold Medal / first-rank academic recognition.
LanguagesEnglish C1; German B1, studying toward B2 with completion targeted for December 2026; Hindi native.
Publication and speaking
Manufacturing digitalization, process monitoring, research collaboration or a guest lecture.
Start a conversationProfile updated September 2026
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