Adopting a digital ship construction strategy – Part 2: Perfect your manufacturing plan before production begins 

Disconnected planning slows progress and drives up costs. Especially in shipbuilding, where complexity is the norm. In this series, we explore how connected, data-driven solutions are transforming ship construction from the ground up. Topics include:

• Connecting engineering and manufacturing with a digital backbone 
• Improving process planning and quality management 
• Optimizing shipyard strategy with a virtual shipyard approach 

Part 2 of this series focuses on a critical opportunity to improve efficiency and reduce risk: Digital manufacturing planning and validation. 

Planning late costs more than you think

Manufacturing planning often happens too late in the process, usually after designs are finalized, leading to rework, delays and increased costs. Once production begins, every change becomes more disruptive and expensive to manage.

Virtual validation with a digital twin

By leveraging a digital twin of the production environment, shipyards can virtually simulate and validate manufacturing plans early in the lifecycle. This enables teams to author more accurate plans, identify issues in advance and continuously improve using real-time feedback, all while accelerating time to production.

Proactive planning is key in ship construction 

The earlier manufacturing planning and validation begins, the more autonomy teams have to make smart, cost-effective decisions. During the early design phase, adjustments can be made with minimal disruption, but as production ramps up, the cost and complexity of change grow exponentially. By connecting manufacturing, design and operations through a digital thread, shipbuilders gain real-time visibility into dependencies, potential risks and resource needs across the project.  

This integrated view empowers teams to validate plans virtually, align on execution strategies sooner and avoid the late-stage surprises. Proactive planning sets the foundation to deliver high-quality builds, on time and on budget. 

Build right the first time

With a digital ship construction strategy, powered by the Siemens Xcelerator  portfolio, shipbuilders gain full command over the transition from design to production. Before a single piece of steel is cut, every block, assembly and workflow can be digitally planned, validated and optimized. Teams know exactly what’s needed, when it’s needed and how it fits into the broader build sequence. This virtual-first approach delivers precision, clarity and confidence at every step, ensuring each vessel is built accurately and efficiently.

What’s next in the series  

Missed part 1? Discover how a connected digital backbone streamlines collaboration between engineering and manufacturing. 

Coming up in part 3: See how a virtual shipyard strategy can help shipbuilders boost efficiency, meet deadlines, and future-proof operations. 

 
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