CSC Works With General Dynamics to Build Digital Design Solution
The Client
General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation
The Challenge
Develop state-of-the-art technologies and processes to support the development of modern submarines.
The Solution
CSC developed a fully digital design and engineering environment, including more than 2.5 million lines of source code.
The Results
Implementation of electronic visualization tools eliminated the need for physical mock-ups and resulted in a 35 percent reduction in the design cycle time.
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Since 1994, CSC has worked with General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation (EB) to create a state-of-the-art Integrated Product Data Environment (IPDE) designed to be a world class solution for digital design and manufacturing. The resulting technology has propelled CSC and Electric Boat into position as global leaders in the development of PLM solutions.
The Competitive Edge
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General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation has been a designer and builder of submarines for the U.S. Navy since 1899. They are also one of CSC's flagship outsourcing accounts with a partnership that began in 1991.
Following a steep drop in Naval sub contract awards, Electric Boat's survival meant winning the New Attack Submarine (NSSN) contract, now known as the VIRGINIA Class. A key discriminator to winning Naval contracts with the demonstrated ability to utilize an IPDE, which provides a systems architecture capable of integrating business processes and computer systems to enable the production of ship design and construction deliverables.
In 1994, CSC and Electric Boat began development of the VIRGINIA Class IPDE. The first step was defining an Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) process. Electric Boat was ready to adopt Concurrent Engineering, but had to completely redefine the processes and organization needed to implement concurrent Engineering principles within an Integrated Product Data Environment.
The IPPD process had to enable Electric Boat to achieve a 50 percent reduction in design cycle time and cost, while increasing the quality of the design product. Step two was defining a systems architecture to support the IPPD process.
The design and engineering systems had to be fully integrated with Electric Boat's existing automated construction systems, and provide a world class design capability. Electric Boat wanted to make evolutionary changes in process, systems and applications architecture all at the same time. This presented a huge challenge to both CSC and Electric Boat.
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Teamwork and Technology
CSC and ELECTRIC BOAT jointly determined that teamwork was the key to addressing the challenge. They created a Core Team comprised of both ELECTRIC BOAT and CSC personnel. The team had overall responsibility for the definition and integration of all aspects of the VIRGINIA IPDE. This team approach was a resounding success and ultimately effected the successful outcome of IPDE.
There were many key technologies used in the design of the VIRGINIA IPDE. CSC provided the technology needed to enable a state-of-the-market IPDE for submarine design and construction. The demanding requirements of the VIRGINIA program required CSC to bring in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and visualization technology almost before it was ready, and to work with the software vendors to fill in the gaps.
The key elements of the VIRGINIA IPDE include a fully digital design and engineering environment, enabling a full 3D virtual submarine design. Implementation of these electronic visualization tools ultimately eliminated the need for a physical mock-up for the VIRGINIA program.
CSC developed more than 2.5 million lines of source code, requiring the implementation of a new software configuration management process, a review board, and a software change management database. The project was also a reflection of the efforts of scores of people across CSC.
By October 1997, CSC and Electric Boat delivered the final release of an electronically integrated system for designing and building one of the military's most complex machines, the Navy's VIRGINIA Class nuclear submarine.
Netting Results
The net result to the VIRGINIA IPDE was substantial. Re-engineered business processes, together with design/build teams and an integrated product creation environment has reduced the design cycle time by 35 percent The implementation of an electronic visualization suite and a configuration managed electronic mock-up has eliminated the need for physical mock-ups in most areas of the boat.
With the IPDE enabling a more efficient design process, over 50 percent of the ship's drawings have been issued at the start of the construction, compared to 5 percent on previous submarine classes.
The Navy is part of the design/build team structure. They attend design reviews and have electronic access to data via IPDE. The number of actual drawings approved has been reduced by two-thirds, saving months of time per drawing cycle, and lowering cost.
"CSC's contribution to the development of the VIRGINIA Class IPDE has been extraordinary," says Don Slawski, General Dynamics Marine IPDE Program Manager. "Through dedicated teamwork and commitment to excellence and innovation, the Electric Boat/CSC team has accomplished something truly unique in the shipbuilding industry."
IPDE is a revolutionary expansion of traditional CAD/CAM interfaces resulting in a world class solution for digital design and manufacturing. The systems engineering and architecture work is applicable to other industries. Although the products may be different, the processes and solutions can be the same. Because of IPDE's cross-market applicability and CSC's experience, IPDE can be leveraged in industries such as aerospace, shipbuilding and automotive.
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