NSRP Approves $600K for Panel Projects

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) approved funding for 10 Ship Production Panel Projects with conditional approval given to an eleventh project for a total value of $599,425. This action occurred during the Board’s June 25 meeting in Bath, Maine. To support Panel contributions in the areas of improved technology, innovation, networking and knowledge sharing within the industry, the Board periodically makes funding available for smaller, short-term projects, which lend value but are not well suited for inclusion in the process through which larger projects are funded. The Board recognizes that the Ship Production Panels have been a valuable asset for the U.S. shipbuilding industry for more than two decades and works to support their requests. A brief description of each project along with sponsoring panel and funding information follows: Best Practices Guide for Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in Shipyards: Based on information provided by the NSRP Safety and Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) members, slips, trips and falls are the top three injury types that result in lost time away from work. Shipyards report that these injuries account for nearly 25 percent of costs resulting from workers’ compensation claims. This project will develop a Best Practices Guide for preventing slips, trips and falls. Sponsored by the Facilities & Tooling Technologies Panel. $35,500. Develop Industry Skill Standards: Phase 2: This effort will continue the Phase 1 work from an early 2001 NSRP/Crosscut Panel project to establish nationally recognized skill standards, particularly focusing on implementation and documentation. Sponsored by the Crosscut Panel. $45,000. Feasibility Study to Implement an Information Sharing Network Between U.S. Shipyards for Serious Injuries or Fatalities: Over the past five years, more than 100 shipbuilding and repair industry personnel have lost their lives in the United States. Many other serious injuries have occurred that are not known or shared among the shipbuilding community. This project will establish a network among ASA and SCA shipyards to learn from each other and incorporate work practices and/or procedures that will reduce or eliminate serious injuries and/or fatalities. Sponsored by the Facilities & Tooling Technologies Panel. $25,600. High-Solids Coatings Application Process Reference Guide: This project will compile data, develop and provide an easily accessible, user friendly application matrix for all currently approved Navy high-solids coating systems, which will include application optimization information, lessons learned and best practices for ship construction and repair. Sponsored by the Surface Preparation and Coatings Panel. $44,825. In Process Inspection of Mechanized Welds: This project will evaluate the feasibility of in-process inspection using off-the-shelf technology such as Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATS). This technology is a non-contact system of generating and receiving ultrasonic waves to evaluate the condition of surfaces and provide volumetric inspections of materials. Sponsored by the Welding Technology Panel. $81,000. “Lean 101” Training Customized for the Industry: This project will complement previous NSRP Lean projects by providing specific hands-on training in Lean manufacturing for workers and supervisors, using simulations to provide the most appropriate learning experience for this audience. The added element for this project is the “Train the Trainer” workshop offered for the industry with tuition cost covered by the project.

Sponsored by the Crosscut Panel. $55,000. No Stick Welding Nozzles: This project will identify a metallurgical solution to the design and manufacture of the weld nozzle, which will extend the time between cleanings or nozzle replacements. The objective is to increase the life of the nozzle by a factor that is greater than the increase in cost of an improved nozzle. Sponsored by the Welding Technology Panel. $85,000. Purchasing & Purchasing-Related Benchmarking Study Including International Yards: This project will develop a baseline benchmarking study of purchasing/procurement activities. The sponsoring Panel will select and approve topics to be benchmarked. Sponsored by the Business Process Technologies Panel. $22,500. STEP Ship Test Case Enhancements: Test cases provide guidance to translator developers as to how to correctly use the standard for data exchange and provide detailed examples for common data exchange situations. This project will develop test cases for exchange of HVAC data, update existing HVAC test cases, and develop test cases for exchange of ship arrangement data using STEP AP 215. Sponsored by the Systems Technology Panel. $40,000. Welding Supervisor Training and Qualification: This project will improve welding efficiencies starting at the line supervisor by providing specialized training, customized to fit individual shipyard processes and schedules, combined with a standardized certification examination to assess acquisition of the required knowledge. Sponsored by the Welding Technology Panel. $65,000. Environmental Technology Panel Strategic Planning and Outreach Program: This project will identify and develop industry-wide approaches to incorporating environmental factors throughout the life cycle of environmentally sensitive “green” ships envisioned for the 21st century, thus better positioning the industry to proactively respond to a climate of increased environmental regulation. Sponsored by the Environmental Technology Panel. Tentatively funded by the ECB for $100,000 contingent on approval of detailed project plans. NSRP is a collaboration of 11 U.S. shipyards working with government, industry, and academia to achieve the continuous product and process improvements necessary for the U.S. shipbuilding industry to become internationally competitive, directly resulting in more affordable Navy ships. NSRP is sponsored by the Naval Sea Systems Command.