Open & Inspect
Once the ship is inducted into the shipyard, shipyard workers use digital technologies to accelerate teardown, collect real-time operational feedback, and incorporate lessons learned from other yards. Cumbersome components are efficiently and safely transported using physical robots. Real-time part progression is tracked across the shipyard using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. Worker safety monitoring, procedure simplification, and efficient cross-shipyard communication are achieved using tablets, smart watches, and augmented reality headsets.

Augmented & Virtual Reality

Shipyard workers are equipped with augmented reality headsets that digitally guide them through complex disassembly and evaluation instructions. As a shipyard worker is evaluating the condition of a disassembled component, their headset highlights the location of historically common wear and defect zones. The worker notices a new unfamiliar defect and uses their smart watch to request support from an engineer. The engineer rapidly connects to the worker’s headset camera, virtually evaluates the issue, and provides a disposition to repair the defect.

Want to learn more? Read more here: More Real Than Reality: Transforming Work Through Augmented Reality

Perspectives

Sensors / Internet of Things

As sub-assemblies and components arrive at the back shops, shipyard workers apply active RFID IoT sensors to aid in part tracking throughout the shipyard. As parts begin to progress through the evaluation process, shipyard foremen receive updates on their handheld tablets via location and machine data. A shipyard foreman receives a signal on their tablet indicating a part has been at
standstill for an extended period and sends a shipyard worker to investigate. Upon further examination, the shipyard worker identifies unexpected wear on the part and uses their mobile device to quickly track down all related hardware. Similar wear is identified on the related hardware and all parts are quickly re-routed for repair.

Want to learn more? Read more here: When the Internet of Things Meets the Digital Supply Network

Perspectives

Wearable Technology

Shipyard workers are equipped with wearable technology when traversing the potentially hazardous, tight space environments within the ship. A shipyard worker is loading components onto physical robots when they receive an alert triggered by physiological sensors in their “connected boots”. The alert message indicates the worker may be fatigued or oxygen-depleted and they have the ability to communicate via their smart watch to quickly request additional support from the shipyard foreman. The foreman is able to send support and later uses the data collected from the wearables to inform workforce safety improvements.

Want to learn more? Read more here: Workforce Superpower: Wearables are augmenting employees’ abilities

Perspectives

Physical Cobots

Shipyard workers load small to mid-size internal ship components onto physical robots to increase efficiency and safety during transportation to the back shops. The height of the robot adjusts to the height of the shipyard worker to minimize strain and physical injuries. Once loaded, the robot uses sensors and automated intelligence to navigate to the back shops, avoiding obstacles and humans.

Want to learn more? Read more here: The Digital Supply Network Meets the Future of Work

Perspectives

Welcome to the Future of Maintenance Microsite

The digital transformation of the Nation’s depots, shipyard, and warehouses will leverage next-generation technology for everything from intelligent operations management and advanced manufacturing to digital supply network synchronization. Personnel at all levels will be better enabled to succeed in their roles through the introduction of these technologies. This digitally-transformed infrastructure will establish an architecture for the Navy to lead its mission readiness capabilities into the future.

This tutorial will provide an overview of the Microsite’s functionality to understand the benefits and potential application of these technologies. Click on the slides below to learn how to navigate the site, otherwise close this window to start exploring. Site best viewed in Chrome or Edge browsers.

Digital Shipyard Perspectives

Click on the text below to learn more about each role. 

Define my role: Define what I care about (metrics, KPIs):
  • Individuals that oversee all shipyard operations (All models within the facility)
  • Responsible for overseeing overall maintenance activity schedule and execution
  • Meeting shipyard cost, schedule, quality and safety targets
  • Maintain safe operations
  • Availability of the right skills and supporting infrastructure (equipment, etc.)
Define my role:Define what I care about (metrics, KPIs):
 
  • Individuals that oversee maintenance activities and associated shipyard workers
  • Responsible for planning, assigning, and monitoring the execution of all work associated with a vessel
  • Directs adjustments to be made based upon outside factors (i.e., schedule change, material or engineering delay, etc.)
  • Assigns tasks and priorities based on available capacity, materiel availability, and required skills
  • Managing and resolving delays
  • Daily throughput and completion of work orders
  • Availability of the right skills, materiel, and supporting infrastructure (equipment, etc.)
  • Labor and equipment utilization
  • Actual vs. budgeted direct and indirect hours
  • Oversee safe operations
1st Line Supervisors, Artisans, E&Es, and quality personnel
Define my role: Define what I care about (metrics, KPIs):
  • Skilled and nonskilled shipyard employees or contractors performing the physical labor
  • Performs maintenance/repair tasks as directed by work orders
  • Labor and equipment utilization are maximized
  • Work is performed within allotted workload standards
  • Skills and training
  • Completing tasks within the allotted time at a high level of quality
  • Ensuring that parts are returned to the fleet in acceptable repair condition
  • Executing safety measures
Enabling Technologies

A key part of digital transformation of the Nation’s depots, shipyards, and warehouses are the enabling technologies that provide the foundation for the various technologies used throughout maintenance and logistics operations. These enabling technologies ensure connectivity, enable enterprise-wide visibility, and provide the security needed for system stability. Click on the text below to learn more about each role.

A 5G network provides the connectivity that is essential when employing a broad web of interconnected technologiesA 5G network increases the speed of data transfer, lowers latency issues, increases the bandwidth capabilities, and increases the capacity of data that can be sent.  
Cybersecurity supports the protection from cyber threats for all internet-connected systems such as the hardware, software, and stored data. Strong cybersecurity systems protect against unauthorized access to the sensitive information stored within military data systems.  
A Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution integrates organizational data, systems, and processes. This allows artisans and depot managers to access the technical data and product specifications needed as well as create and monitor digital twins for repaired parts and weapons systems. 
Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) solutions use a model based approach to support the setup of a complex system from initial concept to ongoing operational analysis. Using an MBSE approach supports orchestrating the combination of several complex systems and deepens the understanding of processes through integrated analytics. 
Robotic and Intelligent Automation (R&IA) can drive efficiency across manual and repetitive processes. Automating tasks reduces back logs and creates time for staff to work on more value-add tasks. Given the large number of tasks that need to be performed across the shipyards, depots, and warehouses this will free up the artisans and managers to focus on higher complexity, higher value tasks. Automation can also drive analytics for leadership to make more informed decisions. 
Control Tower provides deep supply chain data visibility through intuitive and innovative dashboards. Control Tower tools enable deep dives of data analysis to understand the reason for changes behind key performance indicators and augment problem solving and continuous process improvementControl Tower capabilities can help proactively manage supply chains in real time, allowing leaders to focus on the most critical supply chain segments, while the rest of the supply chain can continue functioning in a business-as-usual fashion. A comprehensive Control Tower provides the visibility across the entire shipyard, depot, and warehouse to view the current state of all processes and quick identification of any pain points or areas requiring action by leadership. 

Control Tower

Six months prior to an aircraft arriving at the depot and during normal on aircraft maintenance at the 0-level, depot artisans perform a conditional maintenance inspection of the aircraft. Data from this inspection is used by various maintenance systems to plan for all logistics support required to complete its future heavy maintenance event. It also provides information to production managers concerning the amount of time as well as artisan skill sets required to perform that work. This information is used to determine proper staffing levels for future work. While finalizing the repair plans for that aircraft, the depot production manager receives two automated alerts from the Control Tower regarding potential issues to depot operations. The first alert indicates throughput of an assembly cell has dropped and the second forecasts supply shortages of critical parts needed to fix the aircraft based on the digital aviation supply data feed. Based on the alerts, the production manager addresses critical personnel shortages in the assembly cell and coordinates with other agencies to develop a plan to alleviate the projected parts shortages.  

Want to learn more? Read more here: The Supply Chain Control Tower

Perspectives