Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of an Innovative Additive Manufacturing Technique for Onboard Maintenance

Ioannis Falkonakis, Saeid Lotfian () and Baran Yeter ()
Additional contact information
Ioannis Falkonakis: Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK
Saeid Lotfian: Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK
Baran Yeter: AAU Energy, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrs Vej 8, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Access to spare parts in the maritime industry is limited throughout most of a ship’s life cycle. The limitation is caused by both the geographical distance of vessels from suppliers and the often limited turnaround time during which parts can be delivered. Manufacturing some parts onboard is possible, but it is a time-consuming and labour-intensive process. Advanced manufacturing techniques could be used to improve access to spare parts at sea by combining the desirable materials properties and flexibility of Direct Energy Deposition (DED) and the higher dimensional tolerances of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacturing. The present study assesses the comparative viability of onboard implementation of advanced manufacturing techniques for offshore assets as a capital investment in different modes against an option of no onboard advanced manufacturing using a multi-criteria decision analysis method. To this end, a Technique to Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is employed considering the techno-economic and environmental aspects of the decision-making process as well as the inherent challenges that come with a new area of research. Finally, the challenges, opportunities, and pathways to onboard maintenance using additive manufacturing are discussed within the scope of the sustainable future for ship and offshore energy assets.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; 3D-printing; laser DED; offshore; maintenance; MCDA; TOPSIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3763/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3763/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3763-:d:1386476

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().