Page 59: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2026)

WELDING lection will eliminate tens (or maybe hundreds) of thousands • Use cobots for high-mix and low- to medium- of miles walked …which adds up to fewer chances of tripping. volume parts (and note “medium-volume” may be

Using automation also di? erentiates an operation and de? ned as 10,000 parts or more annually) may attract employees — which job would appeal most to a younger person: “skills require learning to operate automated PITFALL 20: Focusing on Money, Not People cutting equipment” or “able to perform grinding?” Chasing government money to implement the shiniest new technology often results in tech that sits unused because it

PITFALL 19: Choosing the Wrong Automa- wasn’t part of an automation plan or the plan was cooked up tion Solution by some VPs with a limited understanding of operations. A

One size does not ? t all. Match the application, the shipyard successful plan will solicit and obtain buy-in from the people environment and the workforce to the appropriate automation on the deck plates, the maintenance teams and operation-level solution. Consider: workers who will use the tech.

• For stitch or intermittent welding, consider mechanized or rail-mounted tractors instead of FCAW The future of shipbuilding will not be de? ned by whether au- • For pipe, consider orbital GTAW (smaller diameter) tomation, software and AI are adopted, but by how intelligently or mechanized tractors for larger pipe they will be applied. The shipyards that succeed will be those • Move from FCAW to SAW tractors, or move from that combine practical experience with emerging technology, tractors to rail- or gantry-mounted SAW systems avoid common pitfalls and take a measured, strategic approach • Instead of GMAW or SAW, consider laser-hybrid to change. In doing so, they will play a critical role in strengthen- welding for thicker sections. ing the broader industrial base needed to meet future demands.

PITFALL 19: Robots aren’t the answer to every PITFALL 20: The automation system you choose welding automation problem. For long and not- matters, but your success depends on the people so-long seams, welding tractors may accomplish who will run and maintain it. Engage them early in the goal, plus they deploy quickly. the decision-making process.

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