The first chapter outlines the motivation, goal, and structure of the thesis. It discusses the advantages of Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology over conventional manufacturing processes, using an aerospace demonstrator component as an example regarding total cost and CO2 emissions. Additionally, it compares DED with Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technology in terms of deposition rate and build volume. The chapter highlights notable industrial use cases of additive manufacturing. It also addresses current limitations in process planning, focusing on challenges in data preparation and the lack of automation due to inadequate software tools and design standards. Finally, the chapter provides an overview of the subsequent chapters and their content, aiming to provide a clear roadmap of the research objectives and approach.