Scope and impact of implementing lean principles practices in shipbuilding

摘要

Lean Principles and Practices claim to create value for customer with growth for every type of organization where it is implemented. Therefore, the researchers attempt to study and verify scope and impact of implementing Lean in Shipbuilding, The Shipbuilding technology differs from those deployed elsewhere such as automotive products. However it can be considered in many aspects similar to Construction technology where the product is place-bound and the site itself is a resource Survey and analysis of selected articles pertaining to lean shipbuilding together with available primary data, observations, and exp erience shared by experts in the field-form the basis of this research work. A popular citation states, "The available literature on implementation of lean in shipbuilding environment is quite restricted due to novelty and the restriction of the concept. Lean shipbuilding is very specialized one and its application is considered to be one of the extensions beyond Lean Construction". Our approach has been to search answers to questions that aprofessional engaged in shipbuilding may ask such as: What does the term 'Lean' mean? How is Lean applied? Are there any apparent limitations to the application of Lean in shipbuilding? Where are the examples of best practices of Lean in shipbuilding? These questions guided the research work leading to a key finding. Data analysis of market share claimed by best in the field like Japan compared to immediate rival South Korea prompted to study the success methodology adopted there. On the other hand comparison of shipbuilding productivity in terms of man hours per ton was analyzed to find opportunities for improvement at low ranking shipbuilding yards in other parts of world where 2 to 10 times higher man hours are consumed compared to the best in the field . Special emphasis was made to study situation in Indian Shipbuilding companies in the context of new Government policies and world class Lean automakers like TATA and Mahindra entering into the shipbuilding trade. Advantages like lowest pay rate of labor in this labor intensive industry together with demand of commercial and multi role ships are likely to be explored fully in immediate future as reported in Global Conference and Exposition on shipbuilding by KPMG andFICCI