Ship block assembly sequence planning considering productivity and welding deformation

Abstract

The determination of assembly sequence in general mechanical assemblies plays an important role in terms of manufacturing cost, duration and quality. In the production of ships and offshore plants, the consideration of productivity factors and welding deformation is crucial in determining the optimal assembly sequence. In shipbuilding and offshore industries, most assembly sequence planning has been done according to engineers’ decisions based on extensive experience. This may result in error-prone planning and sub-optimal sequence, especially when dealing with unfamiliar block assemblies composed of dozens of parts. This paper presents an assembly sequence planning method for block assemblies. The proposed method basically considers geometric characteristics of blocks to determine feasible assembly sequences, as well as assembly process and productivity factors. Then the assembly sequence with minimal welding deformation is selected based on simplified welding distortion analysis. The method is validated using an asymmetric assembly model and the results indicate that it is capable of generating an optimal assembly sequence.