• Researchers from CITIC and CITENI at the University of A Coruña have designed a pioneering tool that enhances shipyard planning and, for the first time, incorporates the actual hull assembly strategy.
• The research has been published in the International Journal of Production Research, one of the most prestigious journals in the field of industrial engineering.

CITIC at the University of A Coruña is advancing the design of high-impact technological solutions with a new optimization model for the shipbuilding industry, developed in collaboration with CITENI (Research Centre for Naval and Industrial Technologies). This work represents a qualitative leap in ship production planning by integrating real operational variables and an adaptive vision of manufacturing processes.

The proposal, recently published in the International Journal of Production Research, introduces a methodology that applies Constraint Programming techniques to automatically generate more efficient assembly plans, reducing lead times and optimizing the use of available resources.

At CITIC, researcher José A. Becerra played a decisive role in the computational design and implementation of the solution, bringing the center’s expertise in advanced artificial intelligence and optimization techniques. His involvement ensures the tool is aligned with the most demanding standards in ICT applications for industry.

The model is built on algorithms that factor in real shipyard constraints: crane availability, delivery deadlines, temporary storage capacity, assembly strategies, and workforce availability. The combination of these elements enables much more accurate planning, preventing bottlenecks and maximizing the use of available resources.

Flexibility, Efficiency, and Real-Time Adaptation

One of the major innovations of the model is its ability to adapt to different real-world hull assembly strategies — whether in-line, column, or pyramid — and automatically adjust planning to the most suitable option depending on the shipyard’s resources and objectives.

“Our system does not impose a single solution; rather, it provides objective criteria to support decision-making,” explains Javier Pernas, researcher at CITENI and lead author of the study. “It can prioritize time, resources, or both, depending on the project’s needs.”

The tool also incorporates intelligent management of intermediate storage space (buffer), one of the main sources of inefficiency in production plants. Simulations show that by accounting for this limitation, buffer usage can be reduced by up to 50% while maintaining overall process efficiency.

A Step Towards Dynamic Planning

The research team — with active participation from CITIC — is now working on evolving the system towards real-time dynamic planning, able to adapt to unexpected changes, delays, or incidents during construction.

“The goal is to move from a strategic tool to an operational one, capable of integrating with the shipyard’s simulation systems and responding to any incident,” notes Becerra from CITIC. This development path aligns with the center’s ongoing work in digital twins, advanced simulation, and AI applied to industry.

Commitment to Collaboration and Technology Transfer

This breakthrough is the result of interdisciplinary collaboration between CITIC and CITENI, within the University of A Coruña’s ecosystem, and in connection with the UDC–Navantia Joint Research Centre (CEMI). The developed tool marks a significant milestone in transferring knowledge to the country’s strategic industries, reinforcing CITIC’s commitment to the practical application of ICT in high-value-added sectors.

Scientific Reference

Pernas-Álvarez, J., Becerra, J. A., & Crespo-Pereira, D. (2025). A constraint programming-based decomposition strategy for the block assembly scheduling problem in shipbuilding. International Journal of Production Research, 1–20.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2025.2503465