Title: Comparison of shipbuilding and construction industries from the product structure standpoint

Authors: Conrad Boton; Louis Rivest; Daniel Forgues; Julie R. Jupp

Addresses: Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS), 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3C 1K3, Canada ' Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS), 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3C 1K3, Canada ' Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS), 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3C 1K3, Canada ' University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Sydney, Australia

Abstract: The use of building information modelling (BIM) in construction compares to the use of product lifecycle management (PLM) in manufacturing. Previous research has shown that it is possible to improve BIM with the features and the best practices from the PLM approach. This article provides a comparison from the standpoint of the bill of materials (BOM) and product structures. It compares the product beginning of life in both construction and shipbuilding industries. The research then tries to understand the use, form and evolution of product structures and BOM concepts in shipbuilding with the aim of identifying equivalent notions in construction. Research findings demonstrate that similar concepts for structuring information exist in construction; however, the relationship between them is unclear. Further research is therefore required to detail the links identified by the authors and develop an equivalent central structuring backbone as found in PLM platforms.

Keywords: product lifecycle management; PLM; product structure; bill of materials; BOM; shipbuilding; construction; building information modelling; BIM; comparison.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2018.094714

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2018 Vol.11 No.3, pp.191 - 220

Received: 19 Jul 2017
Accepted: 08 Mar 2018
Published online: 12 Sep 2018 *

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