Framework for a Smart E-Procurement System for Ship Building

Abstract

The research aims to improve the shipbuilding process by reducing the time required for building a vessel through adoption of lean in the procurement management process. The research identifies the AS-IS process for procurement, uses Value Stream Mapping to identify different actions, identifies the root causes for administrative lead time with the help of fish bone diagram and proposes a framework for e-procurement system. It was found that lack of proper communication and visibility between the processes can increase the lead time for purchase order creation for different materials. The use of a smart e-procurement system can improve the visibility of the process across various departments and with the suppliers. This can improve the efficiency of the shipbuilding process, reducing the time required for manufacturing a vessel.