Linking design and production in computer applications for increased efficiency

Shipbuilding has been severely affected by the global economic crisis. Demand for new ships has collapsed world wide since summer 2008 causing an unprecedented levels of overcapacity in the global cargo ship fleets.
The current crisis gives impulses for a radical think to adopt new designs to reduce the life cycle costs and to decrease the environmental impact. Leading shipping companies recognise that low life cycle cost and low emission save costs, open quality sensitive markets and will be the key driver to profitability in the future.
The speaker will present some possible techniques to improve the link between design and production in order to boost the competitiveness of worldwide shipyards. Modularizations, ease of manufacturing, standardization, virtual reality, production simulation, product life cycle management, are some of these techniques illustrated in the presentation. The speaker will also draw the trends for the future years.