Business Process Technologies

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Integration with CAD
To continue support of previous efforts by identifying common information in existing business practices within the shipyard, focusing on the exchange of data between material management/procurement applications and 3D computer-aided design production design systems (CAD).

For more information, Contact the Panel Chair

Shipbuilding Partners and Suppliers SPARS) Vendor Packing List
This project developed a capability that allows suppliers to access a system to print standard packing lists that meet all shipyard requirements. The packing lists include a bar code that can be scanned without having to remove it from the plastic or opening the packages to verify contents, thus significantly reducing the time required in the receipt process for incoming material. The payment process will be expedited for suppliers who use this system. Limited distribution.
Request Final Report

Subcontractor Data Guidebook
This project developed a standardized approach to specifying and acquiring technical documentation from subcontractors – commonly called the Supplier Data Requirements List (SDRL). The proposed approach would reduce the cost of Navy shipbuilding by normalizing the format and methods by which suppliers submit technical documentation to shipyards – streamlining the process across multiple shipbuilders and multiple Navy programs. Available to US Shipyards.
Request Final Report

Activities-Based Cost Estimator (completed)
This project developed a tool (Activities-based Cost Estimator, ACE) to calculate product and production process parameters from Computer Aided Design (CAD) designs and make them available for downstream production planning and process modeling systems to support: work order breakdown content, resource utilization, and time and cost estimation. These types of digital planning tools are allowing shipyard planners to develop, analyze and maintain production plans earlier in the design cycle and in higher detail than was previously possible or cost effective. This provides improved accuracy while reducing the time and cost associated with the estimating process. The ACE tool offers a large potential for labor savings within the production planning department versus current manual scoping methods. Approved for public release.
Request Final Report

For more information, Contact the Panel Chair.

Standardized Supply Chain Inspection
This project developed a standardized Source Inspection Quality Assurance Program to eliminate the waste and redundancy caused by multiple inspection agencies inspecting the same equipment multiple times in the shipbuilding and repair supply chain. The proposed program utilizes standard documents, procedures, and inspection criteria in an enterprise-wide approach with a central source inspection data repository at its core. Available to US Shipyards.
Request Final Report

Second Tier Shipyard Price Competitiveness Analysis (completed)
U.S. commercial shipbuilding is important to maintain and modernize the industrial base for both new construction and repair of military ships and craft. The U.S. builds less than 1 percent of ships worldwide. One of the reasons given for the small amount of commercial shipbuilding in the U.S. is the view that ships are too expensive to build here. The U.S. commercial shipbuilding industry is continually asked by its prospective customers why ships are so much cheaper in foreign yards. This report describes a study undertaken by NSRP in partnership with First Marine International Limited (FMI) and the mid-tier U.S. shipyards. The overall aims of the study were to investigate whether the competitiveness of the mid-tier shipyards may have benefited from recent changes in the international commercial shipbuilding environment and to determine where differences occur in the structure of ships cost by comparing U.S. and European shipyards.
Request Final Report

Business Case Outline and Commodity Material Standardization Process (completed)
The intent of this project was to create a consistent, verifiable business case outline and process that can be applied to any specific situation that requires analyses for cost benefit and investment. Shipyards need a standard detailed business case outline and a repeatable process that can calculate the costs and benefits of making changes. This projects utilized current data and situations as the basis for creating a standard business case outline and process by addressing the problem that vendors of raw stock part numbers (e.g. shapes and pipe) must address - carrying a wide variety of slightly different, but functionally equivalent parts required for shipyard construction projects. Shipyards have cases in which near-duplicate and substitutable parts are used, specified and carried through the supply chain. The study found that typically 20% of commodity parts represent 80% of all commodity usage. Documentation includes a Business Case Outline Template, completed business case,"Cost Benefit Analysis for Re-engineering Commodity Standardization" and two project briefings. Available to U.S. shipyards.
Request Final Report.

Purchasing & Purchasing-Related Benchmarking Study Including International Yards (completed)
This Business Process Technologies Panel project conducted a benchmarking study for the shipbuilding industry based on calendar 2002 performance data. Eleven shipyards participated including two international shipyards. Approved for public release. Further information about this project can be found in the Final Report.

Simplified International Commercial Terms & Conditions Project
(completed)
This project developed a simplified, draft International Commercial Terms and Conditions document for the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Click here for more details.