mechanics and production engineering; in some of them the scale of the practical 

 problem may present difficulties for University research. 



The next largest group concerns proposals for work in applications of the 

 computer to ship production, and in ways of reducing production costs. Both of 

 these are receiving attention at Strathclyde and Newcastle, and at BSRA; but more 

 needstobedone.lnbothareas,the practical implementation of improved methods by 

 the shipbuilding industry remains a source of difficulty. A similar comment applies 

 to the two studies proposed on the larger problems of shipbuilding strategy and 

 corporate planning. 



The final small group is of the kind which could well expand rapidly if non- 

 ferrous materials come to be widely adopted for marine use. In the context of ocean 

 engineering, these seem well worthy of further study. 



Recommended Topics 



Organisation and Planning 



Application of group technology techniques to shipbuilding 

 Mathematical model for corporate planning in shipyards 



Cost Studies 



Design for economic manufacture and costing 

 Value analysis in shipbuilding 

 Study of shipbuilding costs 

 Design-production studies for minimum cost 



Computer-Aided Production 



Automation of shipbuilding processes 

 Use of graphic terminals in ship production 

 Steel flow studies for N/C applications 

 Dynamic modelling of assembly processes 



Plant and Processes 



Methods of bending thick plates 



Techniques for defining non-developable surfaces 



Fundamentals of welding and cutting 



Devices for positioning large, heavy units 



Methods of reducing weld distortion 



Development of steelwork jigging system 



Construction Problems in New Materials 



Concrete construction for marine uses 

 Concrete and GRP production problems 



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