Bridging information gaps in shipyard operations with TU Delft
In shipbuilding, precision and teamwork are crucial. However, if information gaps is delay or missing data, that can lead to an expensive problem. Bjorn Visser, who is doing his Master at Ship Production Faculty at TU Delft, researches how these information gaps can be bridged. By comparing actual practices with formal processes, his research aims at improving the efficiency and flexibility of the shipyard.
The shipbuilding industry depends on such custom flow processes as “Engineering to Order” and “Concurrent Engineering,” which call for a very smooth coordination across teams. Yet, information gaps have also been a big challenge; they slow down projects, increase costs, and could even cause setbacks. One major problem is that much of this work is based on the knowledge of the employees valuable skills and experience acquired over time, but hardly ever documented. This makes it difficult to connect real practices with official rules, delaying things and making it more difficult to use IT solutions as well as one might.
To address this, shipyards are using a bottom-up approach to better understand how things actually work on the shop floor. By looking at real practices, they can identify where things might go wrong. This approach helps match everyday work with official processes, cutting out inefficiencies and better managing any changes. Its flexibility allows for adjustments when needed, helping shipbuilding projects stay on track and production remain flexible.
Figure 1: Challenges identified on current data and project management practices at Ulstein [1]
[1] Jose Jorge Garcia Agis and Per Olaf Brett. “Digital Shipbuilding – Needs, challenges, and opportunities”. In: International Marine Design Conference (May 2024). DOI: 10.59490/imdc.2024.849.
To help with this, the research uses a tool called Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM). Originally created for safety analysis, FRAM shows how small changes in tasks can build up and cause bigger problems. In shipbuilding operations, using FRAM helps identify how information gaps affect production. By spotting these gaps early, shipyards can fix issues before they become bigger problems, improving efficiency and reducing risk.
This research offers helpful insights into how information and communication affect shipyard operations. Using the FRAM method, shipyards can better align their work with formal processes, leading to better control, more efficiency, and greater innovation.
As the shipbuilding industry moves forward, closing these information gaps is key to improving both efficiency and accuracy. At Floorganise, we explore how Bjorn’s insights and adaptive, knowledge-driven solutions can empower shipyards to achieve operational excellence.
