Ship Maintenance Processes With Collaborative Product Lifecycle Management and 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanning Tools: Reducing Costs and Increasing Productivity

Abstract

The current cost-constrained environment within the DoD requires a cogent approach to cost reductions that will not compromise the productivity of core defense support processes such as ship maintenance, a core process. The SHIPMAIN initiative was designed to standardize ship maintenance alternations in order to take advantage of the cost savings from standardizing core processes. However, the normal cost-reduction learning curve for common ship alterations has not materialized. This study uses the knowledge value added (KVA) + systems dynamics (SD) + integrated risk management (IRM) methodology to estimate, analyze, and optimize the potential cost savings and productivity improvements available by moving to a ship maintenance approach that incorporates the 3D terrestrial laser scanning (3D TLS) and collaborative product lifecycle management (collab-PLM) tool suite. Results suggest that when the SHIPMAIN process employs these technologies it will finally obtain the prophesized learning curve benefits. The results indicated that the biggest bang for buck is in using the combination of the two technologies. An optimized portfolio controlling for risk using the IRM methodology and tool suite indicates that both rapid and incremental implementation approaches generate significant savings and that other factors should be incorporated into final implementation of the 3D TLS and collab-PLM tools.