Impact 1: Computational platform solution for PLM approach in shipbuilding

The development of a platform with a PLM approach specific for shipbuilding would be a pioneering addition to the existing landscape of computational tools for shipbuilding in Europe and globally. With interoperability, a standardized data model and process management tools our initiative will impact European shipbuilding competitiveness with shorter lead times and the capability to adapt to design and production time changes. The platform is tested in a real shipyard environment with a direct feedback loop and the possibility to adjust the solution. One of the work tasks will be dedicated to developing the business model for commercial exploitation of the new tool and aims to find a suitable foundation as a PaaS or SaaS15 offering.

Impact 2: Facilitation of digital transformation of shipbuilding

Increasing the shipbuilding industry's digitalization levels dramatically will affect how the marine industry works and profits from information consistency and control. The expectations are to support resource-efficient designs and provide tools for the evaluation of design impacts at the virtual prototyping stage, develop a human-centric approach for digital shipbuilding processes, and up-skill European shipbuilders.

Impact 3: Traceability and integration of early design impact the design process

The platform aims to integrate all the data streams into the interconnected digital tread to provide traceability of decisions and impacts and significantly simplify working processes for the early design stages for all participants – naval architects, designers, engineers, shipyards, and shipowners. The efficacy with which changes are managed has a clear economic impact on operational efficiency. By increasing the efficiency, the gross margins could be raised to 30% or even higher by having a proper tool to analyse the impact and justify the cost changes to shipowners.

Impact 4: Competitive advantage for EU shipbuilders through time savings in design and production stages

The SEUS platform aims to provide the next level of communication that will significantly reduce the time searching for information at all phases from different tools and sources and especially impact the design to production data transfer. Time savings in design and production and the effectiveness of shipyard processes allow the shortening of lead times in shipbuilding - one of the remaining strengths of European shipbuilders that has been eroded by Asian competitors in recent years. Shortening lead times has two additional financial impacts: shipyards can build more ships and reduce indirect and financing costs.

Impact 5: Expansion of shipyard’s exposure to ship’s life cycle: for retrofit, revitalization, use of data from operation and maintenance

The SEUS platform aims to enhance the exposure of shipyards to the life cycle of the vessels they designed and built to provide insights from the operation stage and historical data for comparisons and evaluation of the design solutions used. It also empowers shipyards by retaining communication with their customers and expands service offerings towards the operational stage. In addition, the platform could be used for testing, simulation and training of emission reduction technologies. 

Impact 6: Human-centric shipbuilding knowledge management

The framework includes values, interaction, collaboration, and shipbuilding actors’ skill development and training issues. Identifying these elements of the framework and devising evaluation methods that exploit the association between human subjectivity and context data would be a part of the novel research of the SEUS project. This will impact the effectiveness and productivity of a highly skilled workforce and sustainable knowledge management practices. An additional aspect is lifecycle integrated training and learning programs for diverse shipbuilding stakeholders.

Impact 7: EU workforce skills and expertise development

The platform aims to provide a single source of truth for almost all people involved in every shipbuilding project, with a UX designed for each target audience that reflects their characteristics and controlled access to data. It would provide a needed context for everyday tasks and boost creativity and workers' digital skills, keeping the EU leadership position in the area.