PRODUCT WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

The Product Work Breakdown Structure (PWBS) described herein is based upon that used by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI) of Japan. It has been developed and refined during the construction of over 2,000 ships in the last two decades. Thus, PWBS is not just based on theory. It has been repeatedly proven in shipyards in Asia, Europe and South America and since the original publication of this book in November 1980, in the United States. PWBS employs the logic of Group Technology (GT) which is a method for applying mass production techniques to a variety of products in widely varying quantities. As applied to ship construction, PWBS classifies components to be purchased, parts to be fabricated and planned subassemblies in order to achieve coordinated work flows. In shipbuilding, as in other industries, GT has yielded substantial benefits even when resources remained essentially unchanged. PWBS features unprecedented integration of hull construction, outfitting and painting. Further, it features cost centers which exactly match a zone-oriented organization. The few revisions made in this issue emphasize the interdependency of a product work breakdown, statistical control of accuracy for productivity purposes and line heating. The revisions also include the substitution of pertinent photographs which depict the successful application of a product work breakdown in Avondale Shipyards, Inc.