Controlling enigneering-to-order processes in shipbuilding, a model-based approach

Engineering-to-Order processes in shipbuilding are characterised by their results: unique ships built on customer specification. A challenge is the control of such processes: the combination of complex technical solutions, a large quantity of specialist engineers of different parties, highly interrelated âconcurrentâ tasks, continuous exchange of information and also stochastic events make that current planning and management tools do not suffice. This research describes a first exploration in the field of modelling Engineering-to-Order processes, in order to obtain insight in fundamental process behaviour. This with the purpose to improve process control tools in the future. Innovative aspects of this research lie in the following fields: -detailed modelling of abstract engineering processes with their unique features -a fast configuration method for the generation of ship specific process models -integration of process diagrams for representation of models and simulation models -the introduction of simulation-based, stochastic planning in shipbuilding