During the period from October 29 through November 16, 1979 a U.S. team of six individuals with broad shipbuilding experience visited six Japanese shipyards. The intent of this visit was to identify and examine low investment, high return Japanese shipbuilding technology. The objective of this project is to stimulate U.S. shipbuilders to adapt and adopt these advanced techniques in their yards to improve productivity. This report reflects the consensus findings and conclusions of the U.S. team and recommends several specific projects for the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP). Based on observations in the six Japanese yards visited, the following items are cited as the primary reasons for their high productivity: (1) (2) (3) (4) The utilization and application of the logic and principals of zone planning and construction. The development and use of a very effective material classification scheme for definition, procurement, and control of material. The extensive use and continual development of high quality shipbuilding standards and modules. The rationalized development and use of effective cost/manhour reducing computer aids. While these techniques and methods are of unquestioned value in achieving productivity improvements, it is also important to note the human aspects of their application. Japanese shipbuilding personnel are highly educated, trained, motivated and experienced managers and workers, and, therefore exhibit a very high level of individual productivity.

To enhance national security, the U.S. Navy is interested in improving the capability of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, including shipbuilding companies, their suppliers, and ship design agents, to build naval ships. The Navy is seeking to improve the quality of ship construction, to decrease ship construction time, and to increase productivity through the advancement of planning and production technologies. The National Research Council convened the Committee on Navy Shipbuilding Technology to undertake the study. This report is the first of a multi-year effort. Its objectives are limited: to describe the status of shipbuilding productivity in the U.S., to acknowledge and describe the substantial industrial activity that is directed towards productivity improvement, and to identify and appraise a number of issues for subsequent technical assessment.