Development of an Intelligent Shipyard Welding Procedure System

In Phase 1, a prototype system was developed to demonstrate both the technical feasibility and the financial viability of developing a system for managing welding procedure information both within the shipyard and across the supply chain. The system was referred to as the Intelligent Shipyard Welding Procedure System (ISWP). The ISWP System will assist the vendors in developing, validating and submitting welding procedures to shipyards. The system will also potentially assist shipyards in managing their own internal welding procedures. The objectives of the Phase 2 effort are: · Define detailed functional and design requirements for the ISWP System, · Incorporate the requirements of the applicable military specifications into a complete set of data validation "rules", · Construct a fully functional ISWP suitable for beta testing, · Field test and demonstrate the ISWP system at shipyards and vendors, and · Develop an implementation plan. WeldQC, Inc. has formed a team of the following potential end-users of the ISWP to accomplish these objectives: Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN), General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW). Shipyard vendors will also have significant involvement.