Abstract: A method (1) for optimizing a production process for a component (20, 32) that is to be manufactured by additive manufacturing by means of simulation (2) of the production process (50) includes: a) ascertaining a position of the component (20, 32) in a production space that has been optimized according to a process optimization criterion (7); b) calculating displacements and/or stresses in the component (20, 32) that can be caused by the production process (50); c) ascertaining supporting structures (31) that counteract the displacements and/or stresses that have been optimized according to the process optimization criterion (7); and d) ascertaining at least a portion of the design of the component (20, 32) that has been optimized according to a component optimization criterion (8).