COMPIT 2003 in Hamburg/ Germany - TUHH

The Role of IT in Shipbuilding
Stefan Krüger
TU Hamburg-Harburg, Hamburg/Germany, krueger@tu-harburg.de
Abstract
A review of the business requirements for European shipbuilding lays the groundwork for concluding
requirements for information technology supporting competitive designs. Specific open
system software must be combined with re-engineering the design process to obtain sustainable
competitive advantage. The general guidelines are detailed and illustrated with examples from
the FSG shipyard.
1. Introduction
There can be no doubt that no improvement of the shipbuilding process, regardless whether
product improvement or process optimization, can be achieved today without massive support
of information technology. Any program with the aim to reduce man-hours or to increase the
technological level of the product itself always results in development demands of IT based
tools, interfaces, data management or processors. Therefore, we can conclude that one of the
strategic key values lies in the development, management and application of latest information
technology.
Surprisingly, despite the strategic key value of IT based technologies, it can often be observed
that investments in the IT sector are not determined by rational criteria. Neither the strategic
value of that discipline nor a simple value for money balance are taken into account. This does
especially hold for the shipbuilding industry with complex products, sophisticated production
processes and logistics chains which all have to cope with the extremely short product development
cycles and where the fierce competition has already led to a remarkable reduction of the
players in the field, often due to technical delivery problems or extensive man-hours.
To remain in the market, European shipbuilding industry has to optimize products and processes
to the maximum possible. Consequently, a strong engagement in R&D especially in IT
technologies is a major strategic playing field. This paper describes main conclusions derived
from the current situation and the author points out fields where development has to take place
in the future.
Cost level in %
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
fixed by design
ca. 70% of cost level are
defined in the first
four weeks !
Assigned costs
(6 ships)
Assigned costs
(first ship)
Inquiry
D J99 F M A M J J A S O N D J00 F M A M J J A S O
Time
Contract
1. Model Test
Preapproval
HYKAT
ME Delivery
Launching
Trial Trip
Delivery
Fig.1: Actual costs and cost level fixed by the design for one RoRo ship and all 6 ships of the
series
525