Industry 4.0 is the latest stage in the Industrial Revolution and is reflected in the digital transformation and use of emergent technologies including the Internet of Things, Big Data, Robotic automation of processes, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing industry. The implementation of these technologies in the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry is currently in a nascent stage. Considering this, there is huge potential to increase cost savings, decrease production timelines, and drive down inefficiencies in Lifecyle management of ships. However, the implementation of these Industry 4.0 technologies is hindered by a noticeable gap in workforce capability and capacity. The shipbuilding and ship repair industry is projected to lose approximately 33% of skilled workforce and 48% of management by 2028. With an aging workforce and an incoming digital generation that excels in tech savviness, flexibility, global thinking, and multi-tasking it is crucial to be innovative in workforce development. The Virginia Digital Shipbuilding Program responds to this need by providing a process and platform to address education, training, adoption of innovative new technology and the ability to provide real-time solutions to current and future industry problems. This paper will focus on the three pillars of Digital Shipbuilding – Career Pathway Mapping and Curriculum Development, Outreach and Workforce Development, and Research and Development. Additionally, this paper will address how the team is ensuring that stackable, transferable education and certification processes are implemented between military and industry to facilitate the transition of veterans to the civilian workforce.
Joseph Kosteczko received his Bachelor of Science and USCG Merchant Marine License from the US Merchant Marine Academy in 1998 and a Master's of Science in Operations and Project Management (OPM) from Southern New Hampshire University in 2015.
Katherine Smith received B.S. degrees in applied mathematics and mechanical engineering from Old Dominion University and an M.S. in Applied and Computational Mathematics from Old Dominion University. Ms. Smith is a Research Associate at ODU's Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center under Digital Shipbuilding. She was previously a senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Old Dominion University and is pursuing a PhD in Modeling and Simulation. Her research interests include data analytics and machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, scientific and information visualization, and serious games for STEM education. Prior to teaching at ODU, she worked as an Aerospace Engineer at NASA Langley Research Center.
Dr. Rafael Diaz is Research Associate Professor at VMASC. Previously, he has been an Affiliate Researcher at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and a Professor of Supply Chain Management at the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program. He has a Ph.D. degree in the field of Modeling and Simulation Analytics focused on Operations and Supply Chains Management and an M.B.A degree in financial analysis and information technology from Old Dominion University. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Jose Maria Vargas University.
Prof. Diaz's research is in the area of shipbuilding supply chain management, data analytics, logistics, production planning, lean manufacturing systems, and the intersection between operations management and information and technology. More specifically, his research seeks to innovate and improve operational performance using data analytics and IoT technology at manufacturing and supply chain levels. He is also particularly interested in supply chain resiliency, coordination issues, and real-time analytics-based decision making. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Diaz worked for seven years as a process engineer and management consultant in the international consulting arena.
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