Technology capability of Indonesian medium-sized shipyards for ship production using Product-oriented Work Breakdown Structure method (case study on shipbuilding of Mini LNG vessel)

Abstract

The intense competition in the field of new shipbuilding business today requires shipyards to increase their productivity in terms of quality, cost, on-time delivery performance, and flexibility. Product-oriented Work Breakdown Structure (PWBS)-based steel ship production technology has played a vital role in the shipyard’s success in competition. A block and modular assembly approach using the PWBS method was prepared to guide shipyards. This paper presents a study on the technology capability of four selected Indonesian medium-sized shipyards and one leading shipyard as the benchmark in using the PWBS method. The technology capability in shipbuilding is measured using the technometric assessment model by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), which consists of four indicators; technoware, humanware, infoware, and orgaware. The results show that the shipyards’ Technology Coefficient Contribution (TCC) is between 0.5 and 0.7 (TCC maximum 1.0). This value indicates that the four shipyards in this case study are capable of building ships based on PWBS method. However, some aspects have to be improved to ensure the method is implemented properly, including: better design software that could prepare comprehensive production engineering documents, production lane with more automation, and more crane capacity. Of course, large additional investments must be supported by continuous orders for new ships with relatively the same type and size of ships, so that they are more productive and gradually able to compete in the global market.