Rapid Electrical Outfitting For Shipbuilding

Hull, Machine, and Electrical (HM&E) construction process modernization has lagged behind weapons and resulted in hull electrical wiring creating an expensive bottleneck during assembly of the otherwise modern ship modules that these HM&E systems support. Despite best plans and best practices in industry, much of the electrical wiring is done on the Navy ships after the ships modules (sections) are put in place. The Navy and shipbuilders need a viable modular cable solution that will reduce time and labor costs while also standardizing types and sizes and providing reliable, quick connectors. To support the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Ships initiative to implement best manufacturing practices for new and existing Navy ships, Williams-Pyro, Inc., proposes to develop a Standardized Quick-connecting Electrical Distribution System (SQUEDS) product line. SQUEDS will facilitate Sectional Ship Wiring Harness (SSWH) construction with Logic Based Verification (LBV) for support of rapid electrical outfitting of HM&E systems on Navy ships. This approach to HM&E systems outfitting will reduce ship module assembly time by: permitting prefabrication of HM&E wiring harnesses, modularizing HM&E junction boxes, standardizing HM&E connections using a reduced set of NAVSEA approved connectors, and automating verification of wiring connections and routing.