Product Work Breakdown: An Essential Approach for Ship Overhauls (The National Shipbuilding Research Program)

Abstract : Some North American shipyard managers have successfully adopted a product work breakdown structure for ship construction. Adoption by those who would compete is inevitable. But, none have applied the same product-oriented approach for ship overhauls. Yet, significant such progress is being made by a naval shipyard. In yards which accept both challenges, continuing to employ a system work breakdown structure for overhauls while applying a product work breakdown structure for construction, doesn't make sense. Two different management information systems are required. Thus, this paper identifies how the same product-oriented logic succeesfully applied to improve construction productivity, also applies for overhauls.