In 2023, the US Navy proposed an FY2024 budget and five-year shipbuilding plan calling for 55 new ships, or an average of 11 per year, to increase the size of the fleet from 291 ships as of November 2023 to 385 ships by the 2060s. In short: the US Navy is dedicated to increasing its number of battle force ships, and shipyards across the country will have to step up to meet growing Navy shipbuilding demands.
Increased demand from the US Navy is putting more pressure on shipyards to meet the high standards military naval vessels and equipment are held to. As we’ve discussed in previous blog articles, it isn’t enough for shipyards to just use high-quality parts and materials. Your products have to meet very high and very specific military specifications. In addition, meeting Navy requirements in shipbuilding means you must be capable of scaling your production without overextending your capacity, as well as operating efficiently as part of the larger DoD supply chain framework.
In this article, we will explore strategies for handling increased Navy demand, including strategies for production scaling, meeting mil-spec requirements for Navy shipbuilding demands, and working seamlessly with DoD supply chain management.
Strategies for Meeting Mil-Spec Requirements
Mil-spec equipment isn’t just built from the highest quality materials or to the tightest tolerances—mil-spec also places specific requirements on the designs of essential parts for ease of assembly and disassembly, as well as interoperability. In other words, mil-spec standards mean the parts used in critical shipboard systems not only have to meet stringent baseline standards, they also have to be easy to install and consistent from ship to ship.
To ensure projects consistently meet and exceed Navy shipbuilding demands, shipyards need to refine their strategic operations to account for mil-spec requirements.
Strategies for achieving mil-spec compliance include:
Implementing Rigorous Quality Control
Shipyards and naval systems manufacturers facing a larger volume of orders for mil-spec parts need stringent quality control processes to ensure all parts and materials meet the specified standards. Quality control processes should use nondestructive testing and inspection technologies and systems to verify that components meet mil-spec standards and involve regular audits and inspections to ensure compliance is maintained.
Partnering with Reliable Suppliers
Seeking out suppliers who are certified to provide mil-spec materials and components ensures that all the parts used in shipbuilding can be reasonably expected to meet the required standards for naval operations. Reliable suppliers may also have contract manufacturing capabilities for customized components that meet the same mil-spec standards as off-the-shelf equipment. See our blog for more tips on how to choose a supplier for your shipyard.
Providing Continuous Training
Keep your staff up-to-date with Navy shipbuilding demands, mil-spec requirements, and compliance procedures with continuous, periodic training. This practice ensures that your shipyard’s workforce is up-to-date with the latest standards and practices and prepared to follow the necessary quality control procedures for your projects.
Maintaining Meticulous Documentation
One of the cornerstones of mil-spec production is having documentation and traceability for all materials and components used in shipbuilding. This practice is essential for verifying your ongoing compliance with mil-spec standards, improving your ability to work within the DoD supply chain.
Strategies for Production Scaling to Navy Demands
Scaling up production without scaling down the quality of your results or the well-being of your shipbuilding workforce can be a daunting balance to strike, but the right strategies make the production scaling needed to meet future Navy demands significantly easier.
Strategies for scaling production successfully include:
Integrating Lean and Flexible Manufacturing Systems
By implementing modular production lines, streamlining your processes, and eliminating non-value-added activities, you not only trim the fat from your manufacturing processes to minimize waste and maximize efficiency, but also prepare your infrastructure for quicker, easier expansion and adaptation to increased demand.
Investing in Automation and Robotics
Automated systems can handle repetitive tasks associated with shipbuilding faster, more efficiently, and with significantly less risk of human error or injury. Thoughtfully implementing automation can significantly improve production efficiency and capacity, while also preparing your shipyard for future expansion.
Capacity Planning and Forecasting
In order to meet the Navy’s future shipbuilding demands, your shipyard needs to be able to reliably and accurately forecast those demands. By keeping your ear to the ground and leveraging your knowledge of the shipbuilding supply chain, you can anticipate future production needs and ensure your resources and infrastructure are in a place to meet increased demand in the future.
Strategies for Efficient DoD Supply Chain Operation
Understanding the ins and outs of DoD supply chain management will be essential for establishing your shipyard as a reliable production partner to the US Navy. Operating successfully in this environment demands:
Integrated Supply Chain Management Systems
Supply chain management systems provide the real-time visibility into inventory, logistics, and supplier performance your shipyard needs to make faster, more data-driven decisions about your operations.
Strong Relationships with Reliable Suppliers and Shipyards
By prioritizing effective communication and partnership with your suppliers, you ensure more timely delivery of materials and components, reducing your lead times. You can also collaborate with other shipyards—especially in an industry with a limited pool of suppliers, forming joint ventures and strategic alliances with other shipyards can give you leverage to negotiate more favorable pricing on critical components. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats.
Agile Logistics and Transportation
By implementing agile strategies into your logistics operations, such as by using multiple transportation modes and routes, you can ensure more efficient DoD supply chain management by adapting more quickly to changes in demand and minimizing the impacts of supply chain disruptions on your budgets and deadlines.
Compliance with DoD Regulations
Understanding and adhering to all contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and regulatory standards demanded by the DoD ensures a smoother process of working with US Navy clients.
Dante Valve: A Reliable Partner for Shipbuilding Efficiency
With the US Navy planning for extensive expansion of its fleet, shipyards will have their work cut out for them in the coming years and decades to meet the demand for faster and larger-scale production without sacrificing quality.
Meeting Navy requirements in the shipbuilding industry will be a tall order, but with reliable suppliers and the right strategies for handling increased Navy demand, shipyards can overcome the challenges ahead and thrive. Whatever strategies shipyards pursue, flexibility, adaptability, and proactivity will be the key to succeeding in the coming years.
Dante Valve is committed to helping shipyards rise to the occasion and build the future of American naval defense. As a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer and supplier of mil-spec valves with CNC and custom machining capabilities, we have the experience and expertise to support shipyards of all shapes and sizes. Request a quote today.