Shipbuilding Robotics and Economics

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 49-58
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Reeve ◽  
Robert Rongo
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Labor Cost ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Commercial World ◽  
World Markets ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Robotic Automation ◽  
Gantry Robot

Commercial shipbuilding is surviving and prospering in mature high-labor-cost countries even under intense competition from low-labor-cost countries. Prospering shipyards are investing in robotic automation to increase productivity and worker added value. Robot welders are producing higher quality ships for as little as $1 per hour. It is projected that U.S. shipyards must also use robots in order to successfully compete in commercial world markets. This paper describes how the Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) on Shipbuilding Robotics is leveraging advanced robotic technology to provide low-cost robotics for U.S. shipyard automation. The TRP is described, economic analysis methods for robot welding are presented, and factors for successful implementation of robotics are discussed. A case study of a successful shipyard gantry robot implementation is reported.

APPLICATION OF LEAN METHODS FOR PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT IN STEEL FABRICATION SHOPS: A CASE STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Dufresne ◽  
Ho-Yan Mok ◽  
Reza Shakeri ◽  
Mohamed Elbarkouky ◽  
Vishal Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Productivity Improvement ◽  
Continuous Improvement Process ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Commercial Steel ◽  
Steel Fabrication ◽  
Lean Methods

The objective of this paper is to identify tools and methodologies to increase productivity in commercial steel fabrication shops. The effectiveness of these tools and methodologies has been demonstrated through a case study in a Canadian steel fabrication shop. Three different productivity improvement concepts were identified as suitable for the steel fabrication environment. Lean, Six Sigma, and the Theory of Constraints (TOC). Lean was retained as being the most suitable to steel fabrication due to its low cost, focus on quality, and built in continuous improvement process. In the case study, Lean tools were identified and applied to address three top productivity issues. A baseline was established for existing productivity for a fitting station over a period of two weeks. Selected tools were implemented, and a session was conducted to educate the workers on the new processes and tools. Lastly, the productivity was recalculated, the results were analyzed, and recommendations were made.

scholarly journals Strategische Planung in Plattformen und Eco-Systemen mittels Szenario-Technik

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Gräßler
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Influence Factors ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Mechatronic Systems ◽  
Flood Level ◽  
Scenario Technique

Digitization of mechatronic products and the trend towards platforms and eco-system challenges providers of mechatronic products in the development of new, digital business models and sucessful innovations. In this paper, a novel tool forstrategic planning by means of scenario-technique directly linked to a -platform is presented. An efficient tool for strategic planning is offered to the providers of mechatronic systems who want to enhance the capabilties of their products by usingservices on the plattform to achieve an added value. By linking the tool to the platform, generic influence factors and selection rules can be provided. Thereby, the required effort for strategic planning can be significantly reduced. Providersof mechatronic systems are enabled to anticipate future scenarios and to identify business opportunities in an autonomous way. The integrated tool for strategic planning is validated in a case study. The case study comprises the mechatronicproduct of a low-cost flood level warning system which uses a pan-european data platform.

scholarly journals ADVANTAGES REACHED BY REPLACEMENT OF 2D TO 3D PROGRAMMING TO AIM MACHINABILITY OF PRIMARY PARTS

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Gustavo Franco Barbosa ◽  
Carlos Henrique Pereira De Souza
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Machine Language ◽  
Cnc Machine ◽  
3D Cad ◽  
Work Routines ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
High Level ◽  
2D To 3D

Industrial programming is a tiresome and time-consuming task that requires technical skill. Thus, new and more intuitive ways for people to interact with CNC machines are required to make programming easier. The goal is to present two methods of programming that helps users to program a machine in an intuitive way, providing a high-level of abstraction from the machine language. Therefore, this paper presents a CAD-based system to program from a 3D CAD environment, allowing users with essential CAD skills to generate programs off-line in order to facilitate and accelerate these related tasks. This is feasible due to a relatively low cost and commercially available CAD packages that enable the user to generate machining programs. The method used to get data from CAD and techniques to manipulate, simulate and convert it into CNC machine commands are presented herein. Finally, the effectiveness of the two methods is showed when the time and wastes saved in 3D programming is compared to 2D programming to perform the same task. This presented method can also contribute to improve the quality of work, increase productivity, standardize work routines, and strive for excellence in adding value. A case study is showed to evidence the benefits reached.

scholarly journals Productivity Improvement of a Special Purpose Machine Using DMAIC Principles: A Case Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Dambhare ◽  
Siddhant Aphale ◽  
Kiran Kakade ◽  
Tejas Thote ◽  
Atul Borade
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Fault Tree Analysis ◽  
Labor Cost ◽  
The Other ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Productivity Improvement ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Multivariable Regression ◽  
Input Variables

Six Sigma is one of the popular methodologies used by the companies to improve the quality and productivity. It uses a detailed analysis of the process to determine the causes of the problem and proposes a successful improvement. Various approaches are adopted while following Six Sigma methodologies and one of them is DMAIC. The successful implementation of DMAIC and FTA is discussed in this paper. In this study, the major problem was of continuous rework up to 16%, which was leading to wastage of man hours and labor cost. Initially, fault tree analysis (FTA) was used to detect the key process input variables (KPIVs) affecting the output. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to know the possible relationship between the KPIVs and the output. The DMAIC methodology was successfully implemented to reduce the rework from 16% bores per month to 2.20% bores per month. The other problem of nonuniform step bores was also reduced significantly.

Low Temperature Fault Isolation Using Soft Defect Localization

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristopher D. Staller
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Cold Temperature ◽  
Multiple Point ◽  
Defect Localization ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract Cold temperature failures are often difficult to resolve, especially those at extreme low levels (< -40°C). Momentary application of chill spray can confirm the failure mode, but is impractical during photoemission microscopy (PEM), laser scanning microscopy (LSM), and multiple point microprobing. This paper will examine relatively low-cost cold temperature systems that can hold samples at steady state extreme low temperatures and describe a case study where a cold temperature stage was combined with LSM soft defect localization (SDL) to rapidly identify the cause of a complex cold temperature failure mechanism.

Empowering professionalism in mission-oriented innovation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus M Bugge ◽  
Fazilat Siddiq
Keyword(s):  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Teaching Tools

Abstract In the literature on mission-oriented innovation supply side and tech-oriented approaches have been complemented by broader and more inclusive societal approaches. Here, it is highlighted that both directionality and broad anchoring of diverse stakeholders across private, public, and civic domains are key to successful implementation. Still, it is unclear how these dimensions relate and unfold in practice. Using digital literacy in education as an example of mission-oriented innovation, this paper investigates what prerequisites and capabilities are needed to envision and govern such processes. Based upon a case study of innovative teaching practices in twenty-five classes at ten primary schools in Norway, the paper finds that the motivation, dedication, and engagement of the teachers is not primarily related to the digital technologies themselves, but to the professional and pedagogical anchoring of the digital teaching tools. The mobilization of the professionalism of the teachers is enabled by a process of balanced empowerment.

scholarly journals Towards Iron-Titanium Oxide Nanostructures from Ecuadorian Black Mineral Sands

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Karina J. Lagos ◽  
Bojan A. Marinkovic ◽  
Alexis Debut ◽  
Karla Vizuete ◽  
Víctor H. Guerrero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Titanium Oxide ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Secondary Phases ◽  
Hydrothermal Route ◽  
Oxide Nanostructures ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Pre Treatment

Ecuadorian black mineral sands were used as starting material for the production of iron-titanium oxide nanostructures. For this purpose, two types of mineral processing were carried out, one incorporating a pre-treatment before conducting an alkaline hydrothermal synthesis (NaOH 10 M at 180 °C for 72 h), and the other prescinding this first step. Nanosheet-assembled flowers and nanoparticle agglomerates were obtained from the procedure including the pre-treatment. Conversely, nanobelts and plate-like particles were prepared by the single hydrothermal route. The nanoscale features of the product morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The ilmenite and hematite molar fractions, within the ilmenite-hematite solid solution, in the as-synthetized samples were estimated by Brown’s approach using the computed values of unit-cell volumes from Le Bail adjustments of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns. The resulting materials were mainly composed of Fe-rich ilmenite-hematite solid solutions (hematite molar contents ≥0.6). Secondary phases, which possibly belong to lepidocrocite-like or corrugated titanate structures, were also identified. The current study demonstrated the feasibility of employing Ecuadorian mineral resources as low-cost precursors to synthesize high-added-value nanostructures with promising applications in several fields.

scholarly journals A Methodology for Harmonizing Safety and Health Scales in Occupational Risk Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4849
Author(s):  
Zuzhen Ji ◽  
Dirk Pons ◽  
John Pearse
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Risk Assessment Method

Successful implementation of Health and Safety (H&S) systems requires an effective mechanism to assess risk. Existing methods focus primarily on measuring the safety aspect; the risk of an accident is determined based on the product of severity of consequence and likelihood of the incident arising. The health component, i.e., chronic harm, is more difficult to assess. Partially, this is due to both consequences and the likelihood of health issues, which may be indeterminate. There is a need to develop a quantitative risk measurement for H&S risk management and with better representation for chronic health issues. The present paper has approached this from a different direction, by adopting a public health perspective of quality of life. We have then changed the risk assessment process to accommodate this. This was then applied to a case study. The case study showed that merely including the chronic harm scales appeared to be sufficient to elicit a more detailed consideration of hazards for chronic harm. This suggests that people are not insensitive to chronic harm hazards, but benefit from having a framework in which to communicate them. A method has been devised to harmonize safety and harm risk assessments. The result was a comprehensive risk assessment method with consideration of safety accidents and chronic health issues. This has the potential to benefit industry by making chronic harm more visible and hence more preventable.

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