Proceedings of the 2001 Winter Simulation Conference B. A. Peters, J. S. Smith, D. J. Medeiros, and M. W. Rohrer, eds. ABSTRACT This paper discusses the objectives and requirements for a shipbuilding simulation. It presents an overview of a generic simulation of shipbuilding operations. The shipbuilding simulation model can be used as a tool to analyze the schedule impact of new workload, evaluate production scenarios, and identify resource problems. The simulation helps identify resource constraints and conflicts between competing jobs. The simulation can be used to show expected results of inserting new technologies or equipment into the shipyard, particularly with respect to operating costs and schedule impact. The use of DOD High Level Architecture (HLA) and Run Time Infrastructure (RTI) as an integration mechanism for distributed simulation is also discussed briefly. 1 INTRODUCTION Scientists and engineers working on the Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Program at the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) performed the research presented in this paper. The goal of the Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Program is to develop data interfaces and test methods for integrating manufacturing simulation and visualization applications to improve the accessibility and interoperability of this technology for U.S. industry. The National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) in part sponsored the research presented in this paper. The NSRP is a five-year program to achieve significant technology and process improvements in the U.S. shipbuilding industry. NRSP is being carried out as a collaboration among U.S. shipyards, government, industry and academia. The NSRP has six focus areas, which are listed below: • Shipyard Production Process Technologies • Business Process Technologies • Product Design and Material Technologies • System Technologies • Facilities and Tooling • Crosscut Initiatives. The Shipyard Production Process Technologies is a major initiative that addresses all production processes used to transform raw material, components, and equipment into completed products (NSRP 2001). The simulation of shipbuilding operations presented in this paper was carried out as part of this initiative. For background on shipbuilding operation, see (Storch 1995). The objective of the simulation model for shipbuilding operations is to provide data to support shipyard management decisions including: • Analysis of schedule impact due to additional projects, differing production scenarios, and so forth • Identification of labor resource conflicts by craft and skill level • Analysis of cost and effects of exercising overtime, new hire, and/or subcontractor to cover labor shortages • Analysis of cost tradeoffs of holding over employees without work, versus lay-off, rehires and new hires • Prediction of optimum staffing levels based sales and labor demand forecasts • Demonstration of the expected results of inserting new technology or equipment into shipyard, particularly with respect to operating costs and schedule impact • Visual display of work location, resources, and identification resource constraints and conflicts between competing jobs (including cranes and forklifts) SIMULATION OF SHIPBUILDING OPERATIONS Charles McLean Guodong Shao Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Group National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8260 Gaithersburg, MD 20899, U.S.A. 870