IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SHIP DESIGN PROCESS

This brief paper summarizes the results of a study of the ship design process which are presented in a 150 page report. The study was a part of the Ship Producibility Research Program sponsored by the Maritime Administration, administered by the Bath Iron Works Corporation, and was carried out by the Quincy Shipbuilding Division of General Dynamics. The primary objective of the study was to reduce the cost of shipbuilding in the U.S. shipyards. Specifically, it was intended to develop an improved ship design process thru increased emphasis on producibility. Early results led to the consensus by all concerned that no improved process, per se, would result from the study, but that a number of significant improvements in the design process were possible. The design process includes the engineering and design work necessary to develop the preliminary and contract design plans and specifications and the construction drawings and data to build the ship. Therefore, the purpose was to study the preliminary and contract design processes and to define systematic approaches to contract level design, including definition of responsibilities and sequence of design and contracting tasks, and to study the design processes used in various yards to produce the detailed construction drawings, and methods of improvement to make them more cost effective and producible.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Joint Meeting of the California Sections, September 29-October 1, 1977. Final Report--Improved Design Process. Task D-2 of the Ship Producibility Program, April 77, available from Mr. John Mason, Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine 04530.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

  601 Pavonia Avenue
  Jersey City, NJ  United States  07306-2907
• Authors:
  • MacMillan, D C
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Pagination: 13 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computers; Contracts; Costs; Economic analysis; Estimating; Productivity; Shipbuilding; Ships; Shipyards; Specifications; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship design
• Old TRIS Terms: Ship construction costs; Shipyard estimating
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Economics; Finance; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00174007
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 1978 12:00AM