Additive Manufacturing in the Brazilian Navy's Logistics: A Case Study and Adoption Roadmap

This paper analyzes additive manufacturing as a strategic capability for the Brazilian Navy’s logistics. Using a qualitative case study based on document analysis and a narrative literature review, the study examines the benefits, requirements, risks, and implications of adopting the technology in remote and highly critical operational contexts. The results indicate that additive manufacturing can reduce replenishment times, increase supply flexibility, and support on-demand production of selected parts, provided that it is supported by digital infrastructure, technical validation, governance, and workforce qualification. The findings also show that its benefits depend on operational criticality, demand frequency, sourcing difficulty, and readiness impact. As a contribution, the paper proposes a phased adoption roadmap guided by selective application prioritization and progressive integration into the logistics chain.