• The procedure is based on exhaustive simulations with synthetic data.
• The study, published in the journal Quality and Reliability Engineering International, presents a customized tool to evaluate the competence of shipyards in this key process, technically called: threading of bulkheads.

A Coruña, December 16.– A group of researchers from CITIC at the University of A Coruña, including Salvador Naya, Ricardo Cao, and Javier Tarrío, has developed an innovative statistical procedure that optimizes the block assembly process in shipbuilding. This method is designed to predict the probability of success when inserting transverse elements through panels containing longitudinal components, a critical step in ship construction.

The procedure is based on exhaustive simulations with synthetic data. The researchers analyzed key factors such as panel dimensions and structure and proposed a new method that allows calculating the probability of threading the bulkheads. Additionally, they conducted a sensitivity analysis to identify the most influential variables in the process.

CITIC researcher Salvador Naya highlights that “this statistical advance not only helps ensure higher quality assemblies but also contributes to meeting production deadlines, reducing costs, and efficient resource consumption. It is a significant contribution to increasing the competitiveness of shipyards.”

Industry 4.0

The shipbuilding industry, a highly competitive sector, faces challenges related to process variability and the need to improve assembly precision. This study proposes a comprehensive analysis of the critical variables affecting panel block assembly, contributing to the digital transformation of shipyards towards greater automation, as part of the Industry 4.0 initiative. In the case of the Navantia shipyard in Ferrol, the goal is to reduce production times and costs by integrating advanced technologies such as robotics and IoT.

The study, published in the journal Quality and Reliability Engineering International, presents a customized tool to evaluate the competence of shipyards in this key process and suggests improvements based on the results obtained.

The procedure, based on synthetic and real data from Navantia, is applied within the framework of the “Dimensional Control Project” initiated within the Navantia – University of A Coruña Joint Research Unit, and continues in the same line within the new Joint Research Center (CEMI), where statistical tools are used to automate processes and improve dimensional accuracy.

UDC-Navantia Joint Research Center

The UDC-Navantia Joint Research Center (CEMI) “O estaleiro do futuro” was established on July 12, 2022, with financial support from the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN) of the Xunta de Galicia.

CEMI represents a continuation of two previous stages: the first linked to the creation of the UDC-Navantia Joint Research Unit (UMI) (2015-2018) and the second to its consolidation (2018-2021). The actions developed under these two stages arose from Navantia’s desire to initiate a profound transformation process aimed at the company’s sustainability in the 21st-century market. The University of A Coruña (UDC) contributed to providing the necessary technological innovation support for this transformation. The experience accumulated in the UMI allowed identifying new technological development needs and intensifying collaboration between Navantia and UDC.

For more information, the full article is available here.