Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI), a leading shipbuilder in Japan, has uniquely exported shipbuilding technology throughout the world for three decades. North American efforts, starting in the mid-1970's, were stimulated by the U.S. Government/industry National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP). The technology transfer, for which the U.S. Maritime Administration deserves much credit, has significantly modernized and improved U.S. shipbuilding systems with carryover into naval shipyard operations for overhaul of all types of warships. But, productivity levels achieved thus far in the United States, while impressive, are not nearly as great as those in Japan. This paper is based on analyses of the underlying differences of shipbuilding systems, technology, and practices between those in Japan and in the United States. It is hoped that descriptions of the state-of-the-art IHI technology will serve as guidance for further productivity improvements in the United States.