Collaboration Model for Ship Design Marina Z. Solesvik Stord/Haugesund University College, Bjørnsonsg. 45, 5528 Haugesund, Norway Bodø Graduate School of Business, 8049 Bodø, Norway
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Abstract. The paper presents a model for inter-organizational and interdisciplinary collaboration in ship design. Two case studies illustrate the application of this model in ship design practice. Case studies also demonstrate usage of two computer-based collaboration tools employed by a large design firm and a small one. Key words: cooperative design, shipbuilding.
1 Introduction An increased body of literature focuses on cooperative design issues. N. Cheng [3] divides the collaboration design research into two main categories. She argues that one part of studies concentrates on information technology problems assisting collaboration, such as information flow and data organization. The second group of researchers investigates social issues of cooperative work. T.Kvan [5] defines two modes of collaborative design. First, close coupled design process, when parties interface tightly on design. Second, loosely coupled design process, when each participant contributes within his/her scope and expertise. Examples of both close and loosely coupled design processes in collaborative design can be found in the area of shipbuilding. The researchers of collaborative design in shipbuilding mostly explore possibilities of computer-supported collaborative work [1]. The number of research papers stress on importance of different software and hardware interoperability, since producers of different CAD tools are reluctant to create compatible software to competitors’ products.
2 Collaboration Approach to Design of Vessel There are five main phases in ship design: (1) conceptual design; (2) preliminary design; (3) functional design; (4) transitional design; (5) detail design [2]. Different software tools are used in each stage. On the first stage IT instruments are applied marginally. In the same time some studies find it useful to apply software on the early design stages. For example, Krömker and Thoben [4] proposed a computerized system for the ship pre-design process. Further, AutoCAD is widely employed in
shipbuilding to create 2D drawings of classification projects (preliminary and functional stages). For detail design TRIBON, FORAN, NUPASS, and AutoCAD are utilized. The prevalence of knowledge-based expertise on the early stages of ship design rather than on the phase of the detailed projection is of key importance. In the process of work on the new ship creation or modernization of the existing vessel, information is exchanged among several actors. Bronsart et al. [1] elaborated a model of information system in ship design and production. I have extended the proposed model. In particular, several key participants were added into the model: shipbrokers, national and international organizations (Fig. 1). Shipbroker
Shipowner
Hull Shipyard
Information System
Design agent
National and international organizations
Model Basin
Supplier
Outfitting Shipyard
Classification society
Rules and regulations
Fig. 1. Information system in cooperative ship design and production
3 Collaboration Model for Design in Shipbuilding Analysis shows that collaboration in the process of ship design goes in two dimensions. On the one hand, inter-organizational cooperation, between shipping company, shipyard, naval architects, classification society, model basin, suppliers, etc. On the other hand, intra-organizational or interdisciplinary collaboration (IDC): between divisions and branches of the same organization and perhaps subcontractors, if the party does not have enough capacity or expertise to fulfill a part of their work in time. Naval designer is usually a central part of the collaboration team. Figure 2 illustrates the nature of external collaboration between the main participants during the design phase in shipbuilding. As can be seen from the Fig. 2, the shipping company, design firm(s), and shipyard(s) are actors that are mostly engaged into collaboration with other participants. As for intra-organizational cooperation inside the design firm, it may be divided to collaboration between: the steel structure department, the machinery and piping section, the electrical design unit, the subdivision for 3D-drawings, and a sector of workshop drawings.
Shipowner Shipowner Design agent Shipyard/s CS Suppliers Model basin Shipbroker
Shipyard/s
CS
Suppliers
Model basin
Shipbroker
IDC +
Design agent + IDC
+ +
+ +
+ +
+
+ -
+ + + +
+ + + + -
IDC + + +
+ IDC -
+ IDC -
IDC -
+ IDC
Fig. 2. Inter-organizational cooperation in ship design
Steel Dept. Steel Dept Machinery Dept. Piping Dept 3D Electric Dept. Workshop Drawings Dept.
Machinery Dept. +
+ + + + +
+ + + +
Piping Dept. + + + + +
3D + + + + +
Electric Dept. + + + +
Workshop DrawingsDept. + + + + +
+
Fig. 3. Interdisciplinary cooperation in ship design
4 The Case Studies Effective computer-based collaborative tool is of key importance for productive codesign in shipbuilding. Here several options are possible. The first way is to use universal systems designed not only for shipbuilding but applied in other spheres for collaboration and information sharing. The second possibility is to create own collaborative platform to satisfy specific needs of company’s cooperative work. The following two case studies illustrate both approaches and analyse their benefits and disadvantages. The Norwegian ship consultant firm A has experience in design of commercial, offshore and naval ships. The company belongs to the category of small and mediumsized. Company has no branches and operates business in Norway. On demand, they outsource work to subcontractors. Firm A opts to use a standardized system called “It’s Learning”. This tool is initially elaborated for educational institutions, but used now by governmental organizations and business companies as well. This tool has user-friendly interface and allows several collaboration functions. First, each project page has the participant lists with the affiliation, telephone number, and e-mail address. It allows quick sending e-mail messages to all or particular person and groups of collaboration team. At ‘Forum’ they can discuss design issues. This allows reducing travel time and communicating on-line. Contributors may also provide links to useful web-resources under the section ‘Links’. Here can references to national
standards, rules and regulations be placed out. Finally, the tool provides storage for the project’s drawings. This permits to avoid sending them by e-mail, and represents a well-structured place for particular set of drawings in separate folders. A Norwegian family owned and managed ship design company B has a headquarters in Norway and several branches, both inside the country and around the world, essentially close to shipbuilding centers. The company B uses a special collaboration system for information exchange between the parties. The tool called Kronodoc is developed by IT-specialists of the firm B together with a software vendor as a collaborative platform and an information management system in 2003. This is a real-life design tool. There are three parts in the Kronodoc system: solution set, applications, and functional modules. Three years of its operation have showed positive results. This software tool allows, first, to cope efficiently larger information flow that has a tend to grow; second, to transfer a part of personnel that was earlier involved in information sharing work to other departments, and, finally, to save money and to reduce an amount of paper-based drawings. Advantages of the firm’s B collaborative system are adjustment to specific needs, high speed of information sharing. The high price for such a collaborative instrument might be a disadvantage for some design companies since smaller firms often can not afford such investments. Thus, the custom-made collaboration tools are more appropriate for companies with a broad network of collaborative partners and inside collaborators.
5 Conclusions There are several partners that contribute to ship design process during the whole life cycle of ship construction. The main of them are the shipowner, the shipyard(s) and a marine designer. The maritime business traditionally has an international nature. And this trend only intensified lately. The process of design coordination is both time consuming and expensive. That is why scientists and business owners seek ways to reduce coordination costs, and improve design quality. The use of software tools assists in the process of collaborative design. Effective software helps to accelerate collaboration procedures, reduces traveling, and improves knowledge and data sharing.
References 1. Bronsart, R., Gau, S., Luckau, D., Sucharowski, W.: Enabling distributed ship design and production processes by an information integration platform. In 12th International Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding (ICCAS) (2005). 2. Bruce, G.J., Garrard, I.: The Business of Shipbuilding. London, Hong Kong: LLP (1999). 3. Cheng, N.Y.: Approaches to design collaboration research. Automation in Construction, 12, 715--723 (2003). 4. Krömker, M., Thoben, K.-D.: Re-engineering the Ship Pre-design Process. Computers in Industry. 31, 143--153 (1996). 5. Kvan, T.: Collaborative design: what is it? Automation in Construction 9, 409--415 (2000).
