While many of us to can stop by the local hardware store, to find the part needed to fix a leaky sink or blocked drain, doing so on a 100k ton carrier on 6 month deployment is nearly impossible. This demonstration of 3d printed plumbing fixtures, manufactured at sea, is an important step for our nations defense. More importantly however, it paves the way for wider acceptance of additive metal assemblies in civil & industrial, wherever hard to find replacement parts are needed. The US government and it's commercial partners maintain an enormous infrastructure, supplying many similar parts to state and local governments. Streamlining supply chain logistics can save lives, improve services and reduce costs in many applications.
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/navsea-approves-first-metal-3d-printed-shipboard-component-for-u-s-navy-141482/
Fantastic