Digital Manufacturing of Pipe Unit Assembly

Abstract

This paper introduces an outline of digital manufacturing in shipbuilding and results of its application, with the aim of modernizing ship manufacturing, following the introduction of a shipbuilding computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) system. The pipe unit assembly in a shipyard was taken up as an example, because the assembly work has depended on personal experience of skilled workers and has not been generalized and digitized. As a result of the work analysis in the job site, it was found that even veteran assembly workers often use the drawing to image the final assembly unit. Hence, the assembly simulation program was developed and a PC was introduced in the job site in order to assemble the pipe unit in accordance with the computer simulation on the display. The method was effectively tested and verified in the job site. In addition, a wearable computer system was applied in a pipe shop to check the purchased parts and to allot them to the pallets. These applications were confirmed as an effective digital manufacturing system.