Share Historically, replacement parts needed on remote military bases have been brought in on airplanes, ships, and truck convoys. It’s a costly and complicated supply chain that can take weeks or months between order and delivery. What’s more, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force have issued reports citing their need to reduce operational vulnerability and improve effectiveness, while reducing waste. To help address these issues, materials scientists and engineers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are developing a manufacturing process that will enable the military to slash wait times for parts, increase unit readiness, reduce logistical operations and costs, and make deployed troops safer and more self-sustainable.