SHIPBUILDING, IN FROM THE COLD

In order to update yards and increase productivity new engineering principles have been developed which help offset shipyard construction losses. Some new construction methods are flow line production, numerical control, new welding operations, and new shipyards which have been designed to take advantage of the new techniques. Flow line production incorporates conveyor type production where sub assemblies are built and then combined in a final operation in the shipyard. Cranes provide the power needed to move the sub-assemblies from shops to berth. Automation has been incorporated into the construction processes. Computers now control cutting operations, outfitting, and welding in addition to the design processes. One area where automated welding has been successful has been in the welding of flat stiffened panels. It is still quite certain that automation will not be successful in more than 40 percent of total welding. A shipyard built on the Gulf of Mexico for Litton Ship Systems for the construction of large ships incorporates both flow line production and automated construction procedures. Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. of Devon, England, have built a totally enclosed building dock for the construction of ships up to 10,000 dwt. It is in effect a shipbuilding factory which incorporates flow line production, automated cutting, and manual, semi-automatic, and automatic welding procedures. The conclusion of shipbuilders is that the mass production techniques used during World War II must be revived in order to meet the production capacity necessary to remain competitive.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00137782
• Corporate Authors:

  Engineering, Chemical and Marine Press, Limited

  33-39 Bowling Green Lane
  London EC1P 1AH,   England 
• Authors:
  • Woodyard, D
• Publication Date: 1971-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 423-428
• Serial:
  • ENGINEERING
  • Volume: 211
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: GILLARD WELCH LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0013-7782

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Assembly lines; Automatic control; Information processing; Shipbuilding; Shipyards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Computer systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Automatic control systems; Flow line production systems
• Subject Areas: Construction; Data and Information Technology; Marine Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00019544
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 25 1973 12:00AM