Operational and Process Management Improvement through Implementation of In-process Manufacturing Wireless Asset Tracking

Impact Technologies, LLC, with support from Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, proposes to develop and demonstrate a Wireless Mobile Asset Tracking (WMAT) system with integrated reasoning algorithms to monitor and locate in-process manufactured parts. Implementation will hinge on development of both hardware and software solutions tailored to the ship construction and repair industry. The hardware will be designed to withstand the riggers of a shipyard environment fusing both global and local position tracking technologies into a single, cost-effective, integrated package. Embedded reasoners will be employed within the software to determine the location of in-process materials and identify the most probable locations of those assets that have been mishandled and cannot be found. An electronic visualization will identify those areas in the shipyard to search for missing materials. Data garnered from the tracking system will facilitate improved production planning by having the ability to continuously track and monitor the status of materials throughout the entire shipbuilding process; thereby, creating a more efficient, agile manufacturing climate. Trending of historical data will enable study of workflow patterns to improve overall operational efficiencies in shipbuilding processes.