An additive manufacturing system includes a control system communicatively coupled to a consolidation device and configured to control operation of the consolidation device. The control system is configured to generate a model of a component including a plurality of elements and at least one region of interest. The control system is also configured to apply at least one strain load to at least one element of the plurality of elements and generate a build characteristic contribution profile based on the at least one strain load. The control system is further configured to determine a build parameter based at least partly on the build characteristic contribution profile.