The Impact of Group Technology-Based Shipbuilding Methods on Naval Ship Design and Acquisition Practices

Abstract

Modern shipbuilding practices in the United States have evolved from the requirement to build naval ships as economically as possible while still retaining the desired level of quality and the ability to fulfill naval mission requirements. The highly competitive environment that shipbuilders are now in has further stimulated their search for more efficient and productive ship construction methods. As a result, group technology-based shipbuilding methods have been developed and implemented over the last few years. These new construction technologies have profound effects on the manner in which naval ship acquisition is, or should be, conducted. In particular, there are serious consequences regarding engineering and design, (Computer aided design/manufacturing), ship work breakdown structures, and cost and schedule control systems. A brief history of naval ship design and acquisition practices, leading to a description of the current shipbuilding technologies, is given. Then the effects these technologies have on the above-mentioned areas of the naval ship acquisition process are described. Included are detailed examples of how modern shipbuilding methods have affected selected naval ship acquisition programs. Keyword: Theses. (KR)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA200597

Entities

People

  • John S. Heffron

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Assembly
  • Boats
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Control Systems
  • Engineers
  • Fabrication
  • Governments
  • Management Personnel
  • Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Marine Systems (Military)
  • Marine Transportation
  • Naval Operations
  • Navy
  • Organizational Structure
  • Shipbuilding
  • Systems Engineering

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design