FKAB has been using Brix Project Manager in Nauticus Yard Package in an internal start-up phase for the past six months. Now the company is expanding its use of the software.
“Half a year from now, all ongoing projects will be using it,” says technical manager Stefan Johnsson at FKAB in Uddevalla, Sweden. “When they all are, it will make things even easier,” he says of the product document management (PDM) system.
“We use Nauticus Yard Package for collaboration with our customers. It’s an efficient way of making comments and approving drawings,” says Johnsson. Customers can always pick up the latest revision of the drawings. We can also collect all documents and emails, in one common database. Every comment is linked to one document. The system is organised so that all participants can see every comment from the others – it’s an open way to see all that is said,” he says.
He emphasises the usefulness and efficiency of the system. When using traditional email exchanges, there is no common system for organising comments, answers, discussions, questions and approvals.
Brings everything together
“Things tend to be forgotten and overlooked. Also, many items are addressed in the same mail,” says Johnsson. “Nauticus Yard Package creates a system that brings all documentation together in one place. Each comment have two status items; one is for acceptance, the other is to remember whether or not the comment is causing a change in the document. Often we wait for all participants’ approval before a revision is sent out; by the change required status it is easy to remember all participants’ requests for changes.
“On the next project you can follow up. ‘What did we discuss here?’ It’s a way to remember detail design and actual construction.”
It’s also an important tool for keeping track of which comments relate to exactly which revision – this has previously not been an easy task.
Johnsson has been working closely with DNV Software and principal software architect Benedikte Harstad Kallåk to give feedback during the development of the software.
“We’ve had tight contact with Benedikte from the beginning,” says Johnsson.“We’re always improving the software for what we need. After a while, you find new things you can make use of by small changes. We’re starting to use all parts of the program.” Johnsson has been with FKAB for 25 years.
Competitive advantage
FKAB is the largest ship design and shipbuilding consultancy in Sweden, and employs 120 engineers. It has offices in Uddevalla and Gothenburg in Sweden, and in Dalian and Shanghai in China. FKAB offers all types of building and engineering services related to ships and other maritime applications. And with the use of
Nauticus Yard Package, the company has secured an important advantage.
“A lot of shipowners have requested this type of product,” says Stefan Johnsson.
Author: Kaia Means, MediaMix