Software company SSI, Victoria, British Columbia, announced that shipbuilder Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., will expand its use of SSI’s ShipbuildingPLM product lifecycle management system as part of its ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Austal USA has delivered 34 vessels to the U.S. Navy using SSI’s ShipConstructor software. The ShipbuildingPLM system will be used to support data management, workflow coordination, and configuration control across Austal USA programs. The platform will serve as a digital system connecting vessel and program data for U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships, steel vessel construction, and module production for Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines.
According to SSI, ShipbuildingPLM will provide a configuration-managed view of programs intended to support production planning, consistency, and risk management.
“Austal USA is an innovative company, with a relentless drive to move forward,” said SSI CEO Denis Morais. “From aluminum U.S. Navy vessels to expanding into complex steel vessels and now submarine modules, Austal USA continues to push boundaries. Their adoption of ShipbuildingPLM reflects a deliberate approach to solving problems at a level not commonly seen in the industry, with a focus on incremental improvements that quickly add value and minimize risk. They move fast, deliver results, and inspire the industry to rethink what digital shipbuilding can achieve.”
“As our shipbuilding portfolio continues to evolve, the strength of our digital systems becomes increasingly important,” said Austal USA President Michelle Kruger. “ShipbuildingPLM supports a connected, controlled, and scalable way of managing vessel data across our business, which directly contributes to schedule confidence and program performance.”
SSI stated that the long-term partnership allows Austal USA to use ongoing platform updates, integration capabilities, and support services provided by SSI. The companies have worked together since 2005.
