Factors Affecting Shipyard Operations and Logistics: A Framework and Comparison of Shipbuilding Approaches

Abstract

Shipyards around the world have several differences that affect the logistics processes at each yard. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for mapping the key factors affecting shipyard logistics. We test and validate the framework by applying it to three case shipyards—one Norwegian and two South Korean. To develop the framework, we first identify key factors affecting shipyard logistics, based on a review of the existing literature. The framework is then applied using data from the three cases. Through a comparative analysis of the collected data, we identify and outline the main logistics differences and the key factors’ main implications for the shipyards. The findings from the analysis indicate that there are important differences between the shipyards, and these have implications for their scope of planning and execution of shipyard activities, their primary focus of coordination, and their primary flows, among others. Through the framework development and comparative analysis, the paper contributes to an enhanced understanding of shipyard logistics, as well as how it is affected by internal and external yard characteristics.