Addressing Shipbuilding Challenges with Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs)
Shipbuilding is one of the most complex engineering domains, involving intricate machinery, electrical systems, propulsion mechanisms, and safety-critical operations. Traditionally, shipbuilders have relied on paper-based manuals , which present several challenges. These manuals are often large, heavy, and difficult to navigate , making it cumbersome for engineers and technicians to access the required information quickly. Searching for a specific procedure or part number is time-consuming, leading to delays in maintenance, assembly, and repair operations. Moreover, updating paper manuals is error-prone and inefficient , as each change requires printing new pages or issuing errata sheets. This can result in confusion, inconsistencies, or even operational errors . Additionally, paper manuals cannot provide interactive visualizations , which are often crucial for understanding complex ship sy...