Basic studies on accuracy management systems based on estimating welding deformations

Accuracy management concerns various aspects of all assembly industries, e.g., final product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and manufacturing costs. In the near future, accuracy management will be even more important in manufacturing systems because of mechanization and automation. This paper considers the concept of computer-aided accuracy management systems, which are based on the concept of integrated manufacturing systems. We propose two management systems, accuracy planning and accuracy estimation, and concentrate on accuracy planning. A model of welding deformations and an easy estimation method for such deformations by computer analysis using the finite element method (FEM) are described. A prototype system based on the accuracy management concept was implemented in the authors' integrated manufacturing systems, and some examples of estimating welding deformations are given here. Translation of an article that appeared in the Journal of The Society of Naval Architects of Japan, vol. 181 (1997): The original article won the SNAJ prize, which is awarded annually to the best papers selected from the SNAJ Journal, JMST, or other quality journals in the field of naval architecture and ocean engineering.     

Studies on the block positioning metrics system for the hull erection stage

In ship hull production, the accuracy of management activities is extremely important. The block positioning operation in the erection stage is a key process in such management. The quality of the block positioning determines not only the accuracy of the final hull, but also the productivity and cost at the erection stage. We have previously proposed the basic concepts of computer-aided accuracy management. Accuracy management activities consist of "accuracy planning activities" and "accuracy measurement activities." Accuracy measurement activities involve checking and coping with inaccuracy. We have also proposed a system of accuracy measurement metrics: one is accuracy for completion (e.g., straightness, flatness), and the other is accuracy for construction (e.g., the relative joint shapes of each part). This paper explains the detailed accuracy metrics for a block positioning operation in the erection stage. The quality of the block positioning operation is estimated by this system: the accuracy of the completed hull can be evaluated by the concept of tolerance, and the accuracy of the construction process can be evaluated by the concept of labor costs. The prototype of this accuracy metrics system is then implemented. This metrics system is combined with the optimization software program iSIGHT to decide the best block positioning process. Then some examples of the block position optimizing process are shown. Received: November 2, 2001 / Accepted: December 6, 2001     

Information models and functions for CIM in shipbuilding

In order to make significant progress in design and manufacturing systems, all industries must consider integration. This paper considers information models and functions for a computer integrated design and manufacturing system in shipbuilding. The authors propose the product model and several alterative functions for designing a ship's structure, and develop a “ship definition system for computer integrated design and manufacturing.” This system is called SODAS (System of Design and Assembly for Shipbuilding). An object-oriented concept is used to develop this system. In order to define a ship's structure, the authors propose the product models of “parts member” and “parts connection,” and the product models of “Room,” “Unit,” and “Module” are introduced to define the compartments, internal structures and intermediate products of a ship. Therefore, all information about a product from the design to the production stage is stored in the product model. As well as the product model, the “design function,” “cutting function,” and “virtual assembling function” are introduced. By using the design function, any type of ship's structure can be designed, and by using the cutting function, the design of a ship's structure can be cut into smaller elements. By using the virtual assembling function, a simulation of the manufacture of a ship's structure can be carried out.     

Development of a shipyard simulator based on Petri nets

There are many restrictions on production in the factory. The most efficient production schedule should be planned taking these restrictions into account. Professional skill is necessary to plan the best schedule. A schedule planner has to deal with so much information during production planning that it is difficult to plan the best production schedule with a consideration of so many restrictions. In this study we introduced the use of Petri nets to support such production planning with a computer. Petri nets have been widely used to simulate production because of their capability of modeling concurrency, synchronization, and sequencing in discrete-event systems. This paper reports on implementing a simulation system for the shipyard. We had already implemented a production planning support system for a shipyard that is a part of the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system in shipbuilding. Based on this system, we implemented a shipyard simulator that can simulate the production activity in the shipyard. We therefore have defined a shipyard model. The production conditions can be changed, and the efficiency of a schedule can be evaluated. This paper discusses the effectiveness of using a factory simulator. Received for publication on Oct. 5, 1998; accepted on May 12, 1999     

东日本铁路公司开发的市郊列车

介绍了东日本铁路公司4个系列市郊列车的发展过程,并从车体、转向架、主电路、控制装置、制动装置等几方面进行了阐述.