Electric Boat achieves a major milestone by successfully completing the development of the necessary Build Authority (BA) Base Capabilities identified for our shipyard to build submarines using the Integrated Product Development (IPDE) tools and processes.
The completion of this two-year project, totaling 92 IT tasks will enable our deckplate mechanics to build COLUMBIA (CLB) and VIRGINIA Payload Module (VPM) utilizing new IPDE tools and processes deemed as good or better than those used to build legacy VIRGINIA (VA). “By achieving this critical milestone, we’ve set the stage for building a new class of submarines utilizing a new tool system and processes. Most EB employees will only experience a culture shift of this magnitude once in a career. It’s exciting to know that we are at the cusp of an extraordinary transformation within our business,” commented Pete Dixon, Design Build Director.
With the completed development of BA Base Capabilities, EB has the ability to:
- Integrate Teamcenter with Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRP-II) and Electronic Work Packages (EWP), used by the shipyard employees to manufacture, assemble, and test CLB and VPM
- Display digital models of design products in trades’ work instructions
Adam Giuliano, IPDE BA Lead and Acting Design-Build Manager stated, “This was a tremendous effort orchestrated by the coordination of many employees throughout numerous departments. IT software engineers worked together with countless business and trade representatives to define, re-build, and test software upgrades that are now deployed. Their dedication and hard work in achieving this milestone provides the foundation to build upon our tools and processes so that our shipyard employees will be equipped with the tools they need for success on the work we have ahead.”
While development of BA Base Capabilities is complete, our work is not; validation of those capabilities is key to proving that we are ready to execute submarine construction using IPDE. Processes are being established to enable the proficient use of the new tool capabilities. Employees must demonstrate use of the capabilities in production. This process is underway, initially on prototypes, and increasing in scale to full rate production.
Completion of BA Base Capabilities enables the IPDE program to shift our focus onto efficiencies and opportunities that increase performance, reduce costs, and improve ease of use such as:
- Increase utilization of digital devices on the deckplate using tools such as the Interactive Work Instruction (IWI)
- Tackle long-standing differences in systems to make information more readily available in a user-friendly format that helps our workforce complete their jobs
- Incorporate modern technology such as Augmented Reality into the hands of more trade mechanics
“Electric Boat understands the performance challenge necessary to support the workload expected from the COLUMBIA class and VIRGINIA Payload Module design and COLUMBIA and VIRGINIA class ramp up in construction through the 2020s. This ramp up must be achieved by increasing EB’s employee base of new shipbuilders while concurrently losing many veteran shipbuilders who spanned low rate production to a well-deserved retirement. The completion of this milestone is a key step in progressing IPDE throughout our enterprise to meet the upcoming demand,” commented Kurt Hesch, Chief Operating Officer.
To learn more about IPDE and EB’s Model Based Vision, employees are encouraged to participate in the upcoming Design-Build Trade Show this fall to be held in New London and Groton (and soon to follow at the Quonset Point facility). Information including dates, times, and locations will be forthcoming.
