Designing for cost: reducing warship cost without capability reduction

摘要

Warships are complex, bespoke items. Low production runs, unique requirements, tightly defined specifications combined with a need for exceptional capability and reliability has traditionally meant that off-the-peg solutions have never been seen as acceptable. However, as financial pressures increase and 'Value for Money' becomes paramount, new approaches are required to ensure that cost reduction does not necessarily mean capability reduction. BAE Systems Naval Ships is developing this approach and ensuring that cost reduction becomes an integral part of the process of designing, building and supplying some of the most complex vessels afloat. This gives benefits to customers and ensures that high capability warships can be delivered within budgets that are under ever increasing pressure and scrutiny.