Adopting Industry 4.0 Technologies in Shipbuilding Through CAD Systems

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J A Muñoz
R Perez-Fernandez

Abstract

Technologies are evolving faster than our capability to develop applications that bring us the value we can get from them. The potential is clear and the opportunity will be for those who identify the right application for each technology. One of the foundations of the fourth industrial revolution is the ability to handle huge amounts of data that is everywhere and available to anyone, thanks to the evolution in communication technologies. However, data is not information; it is necessary to have the capability to analyse, then extract conclusions and to learn from both. Technologies, such as Big Data (BD), Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), give the capability to do this, but what really matters is how it is applied. Those who are able to recognise the value of analysing data correctly, to transform it into information and apply it to the improvement of the design, manufacturing, operation and maintenance processes will be successful in the industrial transformation that is taking place. This skill requires practitioners to make the best decisions and ultimately optimise the life cycle of the industrial products. Some of the fields of application of these technologies are already evident. It is possible to imagine how these technologies can enable ship design by applying rules, which will facilitate the design significantly. Equally, by integrating the validation of the structural models by the Classification Societies and much of the design through cloud based applications. The adoption proposed in this article is based on the evolution of CAD applications towards a central data model and with the aim of achieving a true Digital Twin. With a real and effective synchronization between what is designed, manufactured and what is operated, making it possible to cover the complete life cycle of the product. In this process, it is also very important to consider peoples experiences. It is necessary to understand how the new generations are immersed in a technological world, which is in a constant and rapid evolution. This interaction with this ecosystem will determine how the new rules should be defined for the CAD/CAM/CIM Systems. This paper examines some practical use cases in the design phase of shipbuilding as an example of what new technologies could provide ship design and shipbuilding in the near future.

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