Agile, wireless enabled Workflows for Ship Manufacture and repair (AWSM)

We propose to develop a new paradigm for ship manufacture that is based on reengineering the processes to take advantage of pervasive computing, ubiquitous pull and push of information and optimal delivery of information to every user, work crew, or process. The focus of the effort is not just to wireless enable manufacturing processes, but to completely re-engineer the processes in which the workload is optimized to take advantage of the flexibility and connectivity of PDA, Tablet PC, and wireless technology. Because of longer horizons for information collection currently there is a perpetual gap between the status of the manufacture facilities and the state represented in information systems. The proposed "Agile, wireless enabled Workflows for Ship Manufacturing and repair" (AWSM) addresses this problem by taking advantage of pervasive computing, data collection and display technologies. AWSM will reengineer the workflows in material planning, procurement, kitting, production planning, scheduling, and manufacture. It will streamline these processes for optimal information delivery and collection, and will result in efficiency improvements and cost reductions. AWSM will build upon existing scheduling (WorkShip) and material planning (MIDAPS) technologies. AWSM will be developed based on modular and customizable concepts so that it can be transitioned to multiple shipyards.