A Novel Productivity Evaluation Method for Shipyards

Abstract

A novel method is developed to calculate a dimensionless "Productivity Number" system to overview the productivity status of a shipyard. It covers the entire and major shipbuilding processes with a relatively basic methodology. This mathematical and visual method assists the top management of a shipyard to observe the status of the shipyard's own without a need for benchmarking with other shipyards, since each shipyard has its own conditions, facts, and distinctive way of building ships. This method also identifies the priority of the factors to be improved in ship production stages, ship design, and shipbuilding management for better productivity. Among 494 factors affecting shipbuilding, 185 of them are identified as having a clear impact on ship delivery schedule from the start of contracting activities until the end of sea trials. Comprehensive surveys were conducted at two shipyards, followed by 26 experts with extensive shipbuilding, ship design, and project management experiences acting as the staff of two other hypothetical shipyards. Results presented a dimensionless Productivity Number of a Shipyard (U) with an improvement target and possible effects of alternative decisions on improvement areas for shipbuilding stages, which can be recognized before making final managerial decisions. Application of this method at any shipyard, for any type of ship, and at any time, before, during, and after production, will also lead to shorter delivery periods. Other industrial sectors, especially those that manufacture unique products over extended periods of time, are anticipated to find this method interesting.