Implementation Plan for Flexible Automation in U.S. Shipyards
Abstract
This implementation Plan for Flexible Automation in U.S. Shipyards commissioned by panel SP-lO of the Ship Production Committee surveys current design and building practice in the shipbuilding industry and recommends a systematic approach to productivity improvement through flexible automation. Flexible automation in this context is not limited either to robots or fabrication issues. It covers any technique that can deal with a class of similar jobs. It can be applied to associated automation opportunities in design Production Planning outfit Planning measuring data analysis process improvement and other crucial areas that support fabrication account for a large part of construction cost and can benefit from automation, New construction overhaul repair and ship modernization can all benefit. To prepare the ground for automation it is essential to gain increased understanding of planning and fabrication processes and to rationalize design fabrication and outfitting. The best roadmap for accomplishing this lies in zone design/construction and the concept of the interim product. Following this roadmap will encourage the necessary coupling between customer designer planner and fabricator. An essential feature of enhanced productivity and a requirement for automation is rationalization of designs and Processes. Even if there is little or no actual automation this rationalization itself will save money and time direct and indirect labor initial work time and rework time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA457126
Entities
People
- Daniel E. Whitney
- Donald S. Seltzer
- James L. Nevins
- Richard E. Gustavson
- Thomas L. De Fazio
- Thomas N. Stepien
Organizations
- Charles Stark Draper Laboratory