A model approach from the swedes

Ever-greater pressures on shipbuilders in terms of time and resource availability, accentuated by increased project complexity in many spheres of newbuild activity, emphasize the need for well functioning design tools. Efficient data management to support the creation, distribution and handling of design and production information has become a vital factor influencing competitive performance. The latest initiative by the Swedish company Kockums Computer Systems (KCS), in extending its proven Tribon concept to the basic design phase, offers the industry an opportunity to rationalize and integrate the whole design, engineering and manufacturing task from an earlier starting point in the cycle. KCS is closely attuned to its client market, recognizing the cross-discipline needs of an industry characterized by a high degree of concurrency, and the evolving demands posed by its increased recourse to subcontracting and more distributed ways of working. The Basic Design module to the Tribon M1 design and production system provides the means for evaluating and developing the preliminary structural definition and layouts which can be directly used for subsequent detailed design and preparation of production data, using other Tribon elements. Its introduction denotes the Swedish firm's intention of eventually embracing the entire chain of design and construction, from conceptual design to automated production. For the industry, the latest application promises savings in man-hours and lead times at the critical early stages of a newbuild project, while conferring consistency and quality benefits stemming from a seamless transition between the basic and detailed design phases. The all-important Product Information Model(PIM), the core database in Tribon and an asset of prospective, long-term value, can now be implemented and built up at an earlier stage than before. The PIM contains all information about materials, structural components and equipment, allows simultaneous, multi-user access to the data, and supports concurrent design and engineering activities. Through the PIM, the Basic Design application is totally integrated with other Tribon 5 or M1 modules, so that data created at the basic design stage is immediately available to all subsequent phases, through to outfitting and assembly planning. Tribon MI Basic Design not only provides the means of defining the 3-D geometry of the hull structure, as the basis for the detailed hull structure development, but also enables various design alternatives to be quickly evaluated, with regard to steel weight and work input implications. Time savings, accuracy gains and enhanced data management are the keystone advantages for users. So as to ensure that the system can benefit the industry at large, and not simply the larger or more extensively-equipped players, the latest software can be used on Intel-based personal computers (PCs) and laptops running on a Microsoft Windows NT4 platform. KCS reckons that its design and information systems are in service at yards and design engineering offices accounting for nearly 40 percent of the present world orderbook of commercial vessels in excess of 1,000-gt. The Swedish innovator acknowledges that its large customer base continually creates new ideas and projects for enhancing the Tribon system. The Basic Design modeling tool will have its first application in Japan, adding a new client to KCS’ books.