Abstract Parametric drifts and fluctuations occur during plasma spraying. These drifts and fluctuations originate primarily from electrode wear and intrinsic plasma jet instabilities. One challenge is to control the manufacturing process by identifying the parameter interdependencies, correlations and individual effects on the in-flight particle characteristics. Such control is needed through methods that (i) consider the interdependencies that influence process variability and that also (ii) quantify the processing parameter-process response relationships. Artificial intelligence is proposed for thermal spray applications. The specific case of predicting plasma power parameters to manufacture grey alumina (Al2O3-TiO2, 13% by wt.) coatings was considered and the influence of the plasma spray process on the in-flight particle characteristics was investigated.