Shipyard Production Process Technologies

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Safe Practice of Common Shipyard Rigging Equipment
To provide rigging equipment information including, rated use, restrictions, guidelines and pertinent standards and regulations by expanding upon the Rigging Lift Common Component Catalog (appendix to 2008 Panel Project: Rigging Planning Guide).

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Pilot Tool for Linking Ship Design to Shipyard Simulation
The objective of this project is to develop a prototype software that links key elements of a ship’s design to simulation models within mid-tier shipyards. Currently linking these design elements to simulation models is accomplished manually, which has proven to be both time consuming and burdensome. By incorporating current design data with little or no manual manipulation or entry by users, the value of simulation models will be enhanced and will provide the shipbuilding industry with a new set of prototype tools, enabling a more efficient and rapid analysis of shipyard operations.

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Panel Line Optimization Through Predictive Scheduling II
This effort will reduce work-in-process and avoid the cost associated with excess material handling of panel parts throughout the manufacturing process. The team will modify the current panel line digital manufacturing model to extend the area in which it can optimize for panel production, through use of the part geometry captured in the ShipConstructor 3D product model database. This will provide mid-tier shipyards with an integrated optimization tool for predictive panel production scheduling.

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Ship Production Rigging Planning Guide (completed)
This project conducted a review of domestic regulatory requirements and standards for rigging within and outside the shipbuilding industry and developed a Rigging Planning Guide. The Guide provides engineers a summary of standards, regulations, and rigging practices which can be incorporated towards developing rigging guidance documents and processes for a shipyard. It is expected cost savings will be realized through documentation and utilization of standard production techniques. Final Report available for public release.

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Constraint Based Design and Planning (completed)
The Final Report summarizes efforts to exchange composite structural configurations and associated material data in order to perform composite optimization using the Altair’s OptiStruct software.  The project team initiated this effort based on the growing interest by the Navy to use composite materials for its current and future war-fighting capability. The final report specifically outlines the test cases developed while using the ISO STEP AP209 application protocol in collaborative composite structure design and analysis. Distribuition to US Shipyards only.
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STEP-NC Concept Demonstration (completed)
This project implemented a proof of concept prototype that connects a shipyard design system to a plate cutting machine using the STEP-NC standard.  Enhancements to this standard maximized the portability of Navy data for plate cutting.  The team implemented a functioning prototype in which machining data is converted to STEP-NC and processed on a plate cutting machine. Increased portability of machining data allows for better balancing of the machining workload among shipyards and reduces the number of plate cutting machines required. Final Report available for public release.

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Panel Line Optimization through Predictive Scheduling (completed)
The project team designed and built a digital manufacturing model to optimize panel production through use of the part geometry captured in the ShipConstructor 3D product model database.  This provides shipyards using the ShipConstructor design software an integrated optimization tool for predictive panel production scheduling. Results at Bender include a reductions in shop floor planning/scheduling time, work in progress and labor hours per panel.  The model runs on top of Quest software and can be readily tailored for other shipyards wanting to implement. Download the Final Report.

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Accuracy Control Implementation Manual (completed)
This project consolidated accuracy control theory, research and practice into a manual that will aid shipbuilders in implementation of an accuracy control system, including action plans for continuously improving the system over time. Numerous accounts of “World Class Manufacturing” have documented the value of statistically based quality control application. Shipbuilding, like other large assembly manufacturing industries, is especially dependent on dimensional accuracy in order to achieve high productivity.

The Accuracy Control Manual is intended to help further implementations of accuracy control in U.S. shipyards.  The manual covers a small amount of theory, but concentrates on practical considerations in implementation. It contains concrete examples from U.S. practice and also shows the progression of accuracy control in mature applications, especially in Japan. Additionally, it provides examples from related industries. Available to the public. Click here to request a copy. Please provide your name, complete mailing address and phone number.

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Last update: 02/01/10