Producibility in the Naval Ship Design Process: A Progress Report

Abstract

In October 1989, A Ship Design for Producibility Workshop was held by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) at the David Taylor Research Center (DTRC). The purpose of the workshop was "To develop the framework of a plan to integrate producibility concepts and processes into the NAVSEA Ship Design Process." The major recommendations of the workshop included initiatives related to increased training of NAVSEA design engineers in modern ship production concepts, development of producibility design tools and practices for use by NAVSEA design engineers, improved cost models, implementation of producibility strategies for ship design process improvements, modification to existing acquisition practices, and improved three-dimensional (3-D) digital data transfer. The workshop was one of NAVSEA's first Total Quality Leadership (TQL) initiatives and was subsequently expanded into the Ship Design, Acquisition and Construction (DAC) Process Improvement Project. This paper reports on the major findings and recommendations of the workshop, the near term accomplishments since the workshop, and the long range strategic plan for continuously improving producibility in the Naval Ship Design Process.