Product Business Assurance in the Marine Equipment Supply Industry with Focus on Essential Ship Systems

Abstract

With the associated changes in the regulatory framework, the increased complexity and introduction of more and more ‘smart manufacturing’ of maritime systems there is an increased demand for enhanced processes in product assurance following the principles of supply chain and best practice. The product quality assurance has been identified as one of the most important issue. Thus, it is very challenging to define what can be a possible direction or strategy of a global operating marine supply industry, considering the drivers of global economies in the near future, and what challenges and difficulties the global marine supply industry has to overcome to maintain the high level of safety and reliability of their products. One objective of the thesis is therefore to review the currently applied marine product certification processes in comparison with processes as applied by other different industries (Automotive and Aviation industries) with the aim to compare their product assurance processes with those currently applied in ship classification. In order to discuss the different business models and describing key performance indicators (KPIs) the main differentiators in providing business assurance between some of the leading class societies will be discussed by looking for best practice in applied processes and procedures. The main focus of the thesis however is to identify potential options for alternative means of providing product assurance within the marine supply industry, taking into account best practices in each of the industries, current and the adopting and willingness to change using emerging technologies, e.g. providing improved product traceability in product marking by using an alternative process and replacing traditional society stamps. A proposal for an alternative certification service model is eventually discussed as an opportunity for a change in the direction of future product assurance processes with the aim to support the Marine supply industry by maintaining their high standard in product assurance as expected by their customers. In terms of emerging technologies and to support this new model the RFID technology is explained as providing the technology for enhanced product marking and subsequently improved traceability of e.g. safety critical products of the marine supply industry.