Interim Products—An Essential Innovation in Shipyards

Ships of the same kind built in series are not a panacea for lagging productivity. The solution is more fundamental and imaginative. The solution involves a rethinking of an entire shipbuilding system. The world's most productive shipbuilders employ "standard" series interim products made possible by a production system that classifies parts, subassemblies, and assemblies by the problems inherent in their manufacture. The result is highly rationalized design modules and highly organized work. Such interim products are flexible enough to be parts of many sizes and types of ships. Runs of such interim products, not ships, is the key! Research managed and cost-shared by the Los Angeles Division of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. for the Maritime Administration created National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has motivated the current revolution in U.S. shipbuilding methods even for building warships. Guidance was provided by Panel SP-2 of the Ship Production Committee of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.