Digitalisation & Further Training: Productivity in Shipbuilding

Digitalisation is transforming the way shipyards plan, manufacture and ensure quality – from digital twins and connected machines to welding robots. This article shows shipyards and suppliers how such technologies can boost productivity and what role further training plays in this. Digitalisation can automate individual tasks and reshape job roles. At the same time, the demands placed on employees’ skills are increasing.

How is digitalisation changing production methods in shipbuilding?

Digital dashboards can display material flow, energy consumption and work progress in near real time. This enables deviations to be identified at an earlier stage and processes to be optimised on the basis of the data collected.

How do digital dashboards improve material flow and communication?

Digital dashboards make it possible to monitor the flow of materials. They also track energy consumption and the progress of work in real time. This makes it possible to respond immediately to errors and optimise processes for the future.

Furthermore, they facilitate the exchange of information between departments. Different teams can coordinate their processes more effectively, thereby reducing errors, waiting times and material wastage.

What role does continuing professional development play in technical progress in shipbuilding?

Technological progress opens up a wide range of possibilities. Modern machinery can facilitate more efficient workflows, whilst new materials offer advantages in terms of weight, strength or safety, depending on the application. New methods can also help to optimise manufacturing processes. However, their introduction also brings with it technical, organisational and personnel-related challenges. For companies to be able to capitalise on these opportunities, employees need the necessary expertise. That is why continuous professional development and targeted training for the workforce play a key role.

In the shipbuilding industry, further training affects numerous occupational groups, including welders, electronics technicians, mechanics and engineers. They must regularly familiarise themselves with new materials, machinery, digital systems and manufacturing processes.

How are training courses for welders, electronics technicians, mechanics and engineers organised?

In training courses, employees learn, for example, how to operate laser cutting machines, automated welding systems and digital control systems. The extent to which these technologies are already standard practice depends on the shipyard in question, its level of specialisation and its technical equipment. In refresher courses, employees learn about technical and legal developments. At the same time, they practise rarely performed but important work procedures and keep their knowledge up to date.

Why is interdisciplinary training becoming increasingly important?

Interdisciplinary skills are also becoming increasingly important. Mechanics with a sound knowledge of electronics and electronics technicians with additional knowledge of mechanical systems can be deployed more flexibly at the interfaces of modern plant systems. This can improve understanding of the tasks carried out by other team members, facilitate collaboration and contribute to more efficient workflows

How do employees benefit from certified qualifications?

For safety-related and standard-compliant activities, training must meet the applicable qualification requirements. Recognised certificates document the knowledge acquired and can help to foster a sense of responsibility and motivation amongst employees.

Employees can demonstrate the skills they have acquired and specialise in specific areas. Recognised qualifications can improve their career prospects and earning potential, and broaden the scope of their work within the company.

How do partnerships with vocational colleges and universities strengthen continuing professional development?

This goes hand in hand with cooperation with vocational schools, universities and further education centres. This enables shipyards to support the practical training of the next generation and to build relationships with apprentices and students at an early stage. This can increase the likelihood that graduates will go on to work for the partner company. Furthermore, such partnerships also facilitate the further training of shipyard staff.

Technological change is opening up new opportunities to boost productivity in shipyards. Digital planning tools, automation and process simulations can bring about improvements, provided they are integrated effectively into existing workflows. At the same time, they help to reduce errors and improve the overall quality of the work.

Is automation replacing staff at the shipyard?

Automation can take over certain tasks and thereby alter staffing requirements in individual areas of work. At the same time, new roles may arise in the operation, programming, monitoring and maintenance of automated systems. Historically, technological progress has both displaced jobs and created new roles and occupations. The impact varies depending on the sector, company, role and skills. Instead, employees have continued to develop. Machines make it possible to carry out certain tasks with less effort. Whether companies use this to expand their production, redeploy staff to other tasks or cut jobs depends on demand and business strategy.

How are robots changing the work of welders?

For standardised and repeatable welding tasks, robots can achieve high speeds and consistent precision. However, where component geometries are complex, conditions vary or areas are difficult to access, manual expertise remains indispensable. The use of welding robots is changing and expanding the roles of skilled welders. These now include, amongst other things, the preparation of components, the set-up and monitoring of equipment, quality control, rework and manual welding in areas that are difficult to automate: one group monitors the robots and ensures they operate to the required quality standards. The other group carries out welding wherever robots cannot operate. Through appropriate further training, welders can gain the qualifications required to operate and monitor automated systems. This can improve their career prospects and earning potential. However, job losses cannot be ruled out entirely as a result of automation.

Similar changes are also possible in other areas where automation is used. Robots are particularly well suited to repetitive, physically demanding or hazardous tasks. In suitable processes, they can improve speed, health and safety at work, and ensure consistent quality. This reduces the strain on staff, allowing them to concentrate on what humans do better than machines.

One potential area of application is the manufacture of ship sections. Automated systems can position heavy plates and carry out the appropriate welds. Automated inspection procedures can then support quality control. The specific level of automation depends on the component geometry and the technical equipment available at the shipyard. This significantly reduces the amount of rework required.

In terms of workforce planning, this means that there is a growing demand for welders and technicians who are proficient in both traditional craftsmanship and the monitoring of automated systems. Shipyards that do not have enough of these dual-skilled specialists in-house often source them specifically through specialist temporary employment agencies.

Which digital tools can be used to simulate the manufacturing process in advance?

3D CAD systems first create a digital representation of the design. When used in conjunction with simulation and production planning systems, companies can also analyse production processes before actual manufacturing begins. This enables production managers and design engineers to identify and prevent potential bottlenecks.

Digital ship models and digital twins can – depending on their range of functions and data connectivity – be used for simulations, maintenance planning and training. VR applications can, for example, enable staff to explore a virtual engine room and practise specific work procedures without the need for a real ship

What are connected shipyards and how do they reduce downtime?

In a connected shipyard, machines, sensors, tools and digital control systems exchange data. They can report their operational status almost in real time, thereby enabling an early response to faults. Based on the data collected, maintenance measures can be planned proactively and material requirements identified at an early stage. With appropriate system integration, this can help to reduce downtime caused by repairs or a lack of materials.

Please note: Skilled workers with experience in digital manufacturing processes and automation may be deployed under a temporary agency work arrangement, provided that all the legal requirements of the Temporary Agency Work Act (AÜG) and the provisions applicable to cross-border deployment are complied with. You can read more about this in our article on Temporary Employment Act (AÜG).. To find out how shipyards can attract and retain skilled workers, read our article on Recruiting skilled workers in shipbuilding.

Conclusion

Digitalisation and further training are closely intertwined in shipbuilding: digital planning tools, digital twins, automation and robotics can boost productivity. However, their successful introduction requires appropriate processes, investment and a workforce with continuously updated skills. Investments in training, interdisciplinary qualifications and partnerships with educational institutions help companies to build up the necessary skills. They can improve employees’ employment and earning prospects. Whether staffing requirements and pay actually change, however, depends on how these measures are implemented within the company.

FAQ

What is meant by digitalisation in shipbuilding?

These include technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, real-time data monitoring and digital dashboards, which make production processes more predictable and transparent.

Is automation replacing skilled workers in shipbuilding?

Automation primarily replaces individual tasks and changes existing job roles. This can lead to jobs being lost, but it can also create new roles. Further training helps employees prepare for changing requirements.

How are robots changing the welding profession?

Welders can take on additional responsibilities in the set-up, operation and monitoring of welding robots, or specialise in tasks that are difficult to automate. Relevant additional qualifications can improve their career prospects and earning potential.

What further training do skilled workers in the digitalised shipbuilding industry need?

There is a demand for training courses on laser cutting machines, automated welding systems and digital control systems, as well as interdisciplinary training, for example for mechanics with knowledge of electronics.

What is a Smart Ships simulation?

A digital ship model or digital twin provides a virtual representation of a ship or individual systems. Depending on its design, the model can be used for simulations, maintenance planning and training.

What does a „connected shipyard“ mean?

In a connected shipyard, machines, sensors, tools and digital systems exchange data. This enables operating conditions to be monitored almost in real time, maintenance work to be planned and material requirements to be identified at an early stage. This can help to reduce downtime.

Why are certificates important in further training in shipbuilding?

Recognised certificates provide evidence that specified qualification requirements have been met. They can improve employees’ career prospects and earning potential.

How can you find skilled workers with experience in digitalised manufacturing processes?

In addition to in-house training and partnerships with educational institutions, suitably qualified specialists can also be recruited on a project-by-project basis through specialist temporary employment agencies.