Improving Accuracy Control While Employing Zone Outfitting in U.S. Shipyards

摘要

Segments of the U.S. shipbuilding industry are currently in the process of instituting the production technique known as zone outfitting. Basically, zone outfitting is a procedure that permits complete, or nearly complete construction and outfitting of major sub-sections of a vessel before the sub-sections are joined to form the vessel. Since most shipyards now use some type of automatic control plate cutting, steel plates of a vessel are carefully and accurately pre-cut. Using older construction techniques, the basic hull structure would be joined prior to any other welding for the outfit of that area. Employing zone outfitting, however, a pre-cut section can and will undergo shrinkage, changes in shape, buckling, etc. as welding of outfit foundations, piping, cables, etc. takes place.