Original Date: 07/21/2003
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Electric Boat Corporation, Quonset Point Facility’s Shop Floor Execution System took advantage of automation and software applications to improve efficiency, reduce material handling and inventory, eliminate labor-intensive data collection and reporting, and improve productivity.

When Electric Boat Corporation, Quonset Point Facility (EBQP) designed its automated Steel Processing Center, one of its features was the capability to shop load and track the movement of parts through the nesting and cutting process. The automated material handling system used in the new automated Steel Processing Center utilized the latest innovations in conveyor and crane management. Prior to this automated process, EBQP manually tracked the ordering, receiving, and cutting processes for its structural parts. This labor-intensive production and tracking process resulted in excessive material movement, extensive use of forklifts and overhead cranes, and excess inventory management. EBQP’s Shop Floor Execution System provides the Production Control group with material ordering capabilities, real-time status of all steel processing operations, and a daily production work order for each of the facility’s workstations. The real-time information provided by the Shop Floor Execution System allows the Production Controllers to better plan the type and amount of work arriving at the Steel Processing Center. As work orders are selected for processing, they are grouped by material, thickness, and priority. The planners can sequence delivery of raw material required for each cutting machine, and as each plate proceeds through the cutting process, it is automatically tracked in the Shop Floor Execution System. Nesting configurations are developed to maximize material and machine utilization and minimize material handling.

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