Industry 4.0 research to drive Hunter class frigate manufacturing
A $1.45 million grant from the Australian Government-funded Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), matched by industry funding from BAE Systems Australia, will help develop and pilot cutting-edge manufacturing technologies to be used to build nine Hunter class anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Ausytralian Navy.
BAE Systems
The new technologies will be used by BAE Systems Australia’s shipbuilding business, ASC Shipbuilding, to build the Hunter class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy at the Osborne shipyard in South Australia.
In partnership with Flinders University and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the project will drive digital transformation through advanced robotics, assistive manufacturing and readiness for Industry 4.0 utilisation – both inside the shipyard and more widely in the Australian supply chain.
The funding from the IMCRC matches BAE Systems Australia’s $1.45 million investment and is on top of the $5 million already invested in developing digital technologies, to turn the digital shipyard concept into reality.
The new $2.9 million cash investment will create seven new research positions at Flinders University – bringing the total number of researchers to 16 – at the digital test and trial collaboration hub at Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide’s south.
From March 2020 until 2022 – when steel is cut on the first Hunter class frigate – the researchers will work with the shipbuilding workforce to trial advanced manufacturing technologies for application in the shipyard and beyond.
These technologies enable connectivity between manufacturing equipment to databases that will provide real-time insights into shipyard and supply chain performance, leading to enhanced productivity, safety and quality outcomes.
IMCRC CEO and Managing Director, David Chuter, said: “Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cognitive automation and advanced analytics are redefining the Australian manufacturing sector and therefore the nature of its work.
“Australian manufacturers, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), need to learn how to embrace and contribute to new work environments that blend advanced technologies and digital skills with uniquely human skills.
“The project researches pathways to successfully adopt new technologies and develop human capabilities that – while focused on shipbuilding – can help Australian industry as a whole prepare for a future that is driven by digital transformation.”
ASC Shipbuilding Managing Director, Craig Lockhart, said: “At Tonsley we are working in partnership with Flinders University to embrace a culture of innovation, conducting research and developing emerging technologies in order to gain an insight into how shipyard workers will interact with digital technologies, and so we welcome the $1.45 funding from the IMCRC.
“Our employees will use these technologies alongside advanced manufacturing techniques to drive greater efficiency and increased productivity, enabling us to operate smarter and be more agile in our decision-making and responsive to our environment.
“An important aspect of the research at the collaboration hub is that we want to share the outcomes with industry, to help educate others on the importance and implementation of industry 4.0.”
Flinders University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said: “Thanks to this strategic investment, Flinders University’s research expertise in advanced manufacturing will help to ensure that the Hunter class frigates will be built by ASC Shipbuilding using world-leading technologies.
“Our strengths in industry 4.0 and cutting-edge digital laboratories will enable the development and testing of bespoke technologies to advance the specialised construction processes required for this nationally significant project.
“The IMCRC’s commitment recognises the value of the partnership that Flinders University has forged with ASC Shipbuilding and is further testament to the calibre of our researchers, our exceptional facilities and our leadership in innovation.”