A MODEL OF SHIPBUILDING CHANGES

THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A PROTOTYPE SIMULATION MODEL OF THE SHIPBUILDING PROCESS THAT PREDICTS THE COST AND SCHEDULE IMPACT (INCREASE, DECREASE, NO CHANGE) OF INDIVIDUAL SHIP CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT CHANGES. SUCH CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT CHANGES INCLUDE ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, MODIFICATIONS, INTERRUPTION AND ACCELERATION OF WORK PROCESSES OR MATERIALS. THE MODEL CLEARLY IDENTIFIES THE CORE COST OF EACH CHANGE AS WELL AS THE DELAY AND DISRUPTION COST ASSOCIATED WITH EACH CHANGE. COST CALCULATIONS RESULT FROM AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF EACH CONTRACT CHANGE ON WORK SCOPE, PRODUCTIVITY AND SCHEDULE PRESSURES. MODEL DEVELOPMENT IS BASED ON THE PROPOSER'S EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH CONSTRUCTION AND SHIPBUILDING SIMULATION MODELS. THE MODEL INCLUDES A FLOW CHART OF THE DECISION STEPS WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION CHANGE PROCESS. THE MODEL RUNS ON A PC USING COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SOFTWARE.