Shipbuilding software brings teams together to optimise operations and processes, explains Jan Larsson, EMEA senior marketing director at Siemens PLM Software
A major transformation is underway in the marine sector, driven by the need for fleet operators to develop more energy-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly future fleets with better overall performance and lower total operating costs. In order for shipbuilders to meet this demand and overcome these challenges before the window of opportunity closes, they will have to design and build ships faster and better than ever before.
Achieving this requires a completely different approach to ship design and construction. Shipbuilders must pursue productivity improvements across the enterprise by achieving operational alignment as well as optimising the processes used in managing ship design, construction, delivery and service.
The Siemens Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Shipbuilding solution enables a holistic approach to shipbuilding that improves total enterprise collaboration, synchronisation and productivity, as well as lifecycle ship service and support.
Many leading shipbuilders around the world have already established new programme launch records with PLM for Shipbuilding. By using its ship design software with embedded templates, they have been able to accelerate ship delivery, boost team productivity and facilitate the use of proven best practices that mitigate potential risks and eliminate programme delays. In addition, with configuration management, shipyards can seamlessly track the configuration of a ship from concept development through production and across the ship’s entire operating lifecycle.
From a scalability standpoint, shipbuilding possesses some of the most demanding design and engineering challenges. PLM for Shipbuilding takes advantage of 4th generation design technology to accelerate development of modern ships and offshore structures, driving shipbuilding innovation and facilitating global collaboration. This allows designers and engineers to create and maintain 3D models in context of key workgroups, such as major ship modules, compartments, systems and locations. By digitally simulating complete ship assemblies and their associated processes, they can also optimise process flows before production begins, implement lean practices at the start of new programmes and avoid the cost of building expensive physical models.
PLM for Shipbuilding doesn’t just help to manage internal processes. Shipyards rely on a global supply chain of partners and suppliers to help design, develop, manufacture and test new ship concepts, and using the JT data format ISO 14306, which supports multi-CAD design content and flexible closed-loop supplier data exchange, they can share data reliably and flexibly with suppliers and partners, some of whom may use a different authoring tool. The solution synchronises supply chain operations by ensuring the right parts are available at the right time.
In addition, PLM for Shipbuilding enables the shipyard to easily develop and publish all handover documentation included in the vessel specifications and contract. Fleet owners and repair yards can then better manage all maintenance and regulatory reporting requirements, service planning and execution, service processes, and metrics monitoring and reporting in a single environment.
Ultimately, by creating a seamlessly integrated and synchronised enterprise that links designers, engineers, production specialists, support teams, partners and suppliers, shipbuilders can optimise performance and maximise lifecycle productivity, thereby sustaining their competitiveness and better satisfying the requirements of future fleets.
This article appeared in the Spring/Summer 2014 edition of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read the full article, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats.