ABS and HD Hyundai Mipo Partner for Digital Manufacturing-Based Automation Equipment

ABS and HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) have joined forces in a joint development project (JDP) aimed at advancing digital manufacturing-based automation equipment for shipyards. This collaboration underscores a commitment to harnessing smart technology within shipyard operations to drive efficiency and innovation.

Focus on Smart Technology

The JDP will concentrate on integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, communication technologies, automation, and robotics into HD Hyundai Mipo’s shipyard processes. By leveraging ABS’s Guide for Smart Technologies for Shipyards, HMD will identify opportunities for process improvement, emphasizing key features like hyper-connectivity, advanced automation, and data-driven intelligence.

Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, emphasized the transformative impact of these technologies on shipyard production. He highlighted how smart features enhance health, safety, and quality processes, paving the way for efficiency and innovation in modern shipbuilding.

Digital Manufacturing Initiative

Hyung Kwang Kim, HMD President and CEO, expressed aspirations for the digital manufacturing initiative led by Mipo to receive objective evaluations from certification bodies and set a global standard. He anticipates that this collaboration will not only benefit shipowners and classification societies but also make construction processes more efficient.

Potential Certifications

The JDP outlines the potential for additional certifications from ABS, such as Product Design Assessment or Manufacturing Assessment, subject to meeting all necessary criteria. This partnership could lead to enhanced procedures in shipyard operations and survey processes, generating efficiencies that are mutually advantageous for ABS and HMD.

As the maritime industry embraces digital transformation, partnerships like the one between ABS and HD Hyundai Mipo are instrumental in driving progress and shaping the future of smart ships and shipbuilding. By combining expertise and resources, these entities are poised to unlock new possibilities and propel the industry towards greater efficiency and innovation.