INTRODUCTION The impressive development of science, technique and technology measured against the novel technological procedures, technical solutions and the applications of recent scientific achievements into practice had an impact upon all areas of human life and activity, particularly upon the manufacturing and servicing industries. Undoubtedly, such development affected the shipbuilding industry as a whole. The industry of ship building, as a field of significant economic, social and strategic interest to the entire economy of many countries, has been occupying a specific position in the economy of our country, too. Due to such privileged position the shipbuilding industry succeeded in developing its resources and in adopting of the up-to-date technical solutions in the process of ship construction. By its very appearance on the world shipbuilding market this industry was forced to adjust to the conditions governing this market. This adjustment to modifications dictated by the world market took place in the process of productions most easily. Through constant updating and changing of methods and practices of work the production process has reached such level of sophistication that almost any type of vessel can be built in our shipyards today. Figure 1st illustrates the stages of the ship construction process. One of the prerequisites for the successful business operating in shipbuilding is to have a timely and adequate information about the changes occurring on the shipbuilding market. AN APPROACH TO BUILDING-UP OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SHIPBUILDING A well structured information system is a precondition for efficient management and control because there is no management and control unless based on the acquired and available information. Therefore, the information system has to be well structured and well established to create an undivided link to the management and control structure. The information systems have been primarily developed with the aim of enabling and facilitating the follow-up of business activities, whether the activities of a production unit or of a non-production unit. The continued development of information system brought about such systems whose primary target was to improve the decision-making process in shipbuilding. Designing of such information systems enables better decision-making process and results in the improvement of operating effects of this economic subject. Therefore, the design and construction of such information systems should be given full considerations in order to avoid any potential negative consequence (caused for the lack of such information system) upon the business decision-making process. The costs for designing and structuring of an information system are substantial and depend on its size, the amount of work consumed and the equipment utilised. Thus, the economic reasoning advocate the development of the information systems on the basis of the methodology of systems analysis which has been approved in practice for its results. DETERMINING OF INFORMATION NEEDS Determining the information needs was undertaken in order to recognise all needs that would constitute a unique information request. The activity of defining the information needs was hard due to two main reasons: -the lack of an adequately built-up information system in the company, -the size of the market and the complexity and multiplicity of factors influencing the shipbuilding industry. The lack of the adequately built-up information system in shipbuilding made the procedure of determining the information needs even more time-consuming and complicated. The method used so far for acquisition of information and data about markets could not be characterised as a continuous activity whose task was to supply decision makers, managers or other bodies with the corresponding data. More likely, we could say that those data were collected occasionally most often for a specific job. The consequence of this was that the decision-makers were ill-informed in the majority of situations, which affected the decision itself. The size of the market and the complexity and multiplicity of factors influencing the shipbuilding contributed to this situation. As known, the size reduces the level of information acquired. Information were numerous and hard to collect and organise, particularly when processed on occasion, as described before. Taking the above into consideration when defining the actual information needs in shipbuilding we used the method of surveying, interview and research, also the results of the interview carried out for the study "Research into Possibilities of Information Systems Development in Production and Operating in Shipbuilding". Figure 2nd shows the existing information flow of the production processes in a shipbuilding company. A care was taken that minimum of information indispensable for running of the current business policy was determined, but also, we wanted to create a basis for the operational level activities in shipbuilding. Based on the author's own experience and the results of interviews made with a great number of persons (mangers, sales personnel, various domain experts, members of different bodies, etc.) a conclusion was reached that the present information system was inadequate due to the following reasons: -information were not collected systematically nor regularly, -acquired information were neither complete nor accurate, -comparison of the collected information was impossible -information were collected at one's own discretion, -main source of information were private connections, -information collected were not available to a wide range of users, -information were not available at the right time. Answering to the question on what information they were missing mostly, the majority of the interviewed said that they did not possess or that they needed in their work the information on: -product-vessel, -competitors, -sale-brokers, -buyers-shipowners, -newbuilding prices. Figure 3rd illustrates an integrated survey of the information flows in shipbuilding. Figure 3rd An integrated system of information flows in shipbuilding INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT TASKS IN SHIPBUILDING On the basis of the above illustrated problems and the determined minimum of information needs indispensable for running of the business policy, and wishing to create a basis for operative activities in shipbuilding, we came to a logical solution of building own computer supported information system. The main tasks of such system are: -to supply the timely and corresponding information to the managerial bodies who will use them as basis for the decision-making in the domain of business and production, -to enable creation of solid basis for operative acting in the company by means of systematic collection of information and data about the basic market elements, -to offer a basis for and direct towards the possible trends on the problem-oriented markets, and their research, -to deliver, as soon as possible, the collected data and processed information to users concerned, -to enable the application of quantitative methods of research. FACTS ABOUT INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELPOMENT IN SHIPBUILDING Taking into consideration the fact that we have but started the qualitative analyses of organisational structures and processes in our companies, and, that the managers and management models have been gradually constituted, it is obvious that the introduction of computerised information systems is absolutely necessary. Estimating that the introduction of information systems in the company of a developed country abroad takes 7-8 years, we wander why after more than 40 years of development of these systems our companies have not achieved the satisfactory results. Referring to the companies engaged in shipbuilding we could state some of the reasons for such situation: -at the beginning our companies did not employ any technical personnel who had sufficient knowledge on possibilities, effects and objectives of information systems. The available personnel had gained their experiences in elaboration of applications in banks, social administration, trade, insurance, etc. Thus, they became and remained, in the majority of cases, the advocates and bearers of development of accounting applications in the companies, while the development of information systems requires knowledge's on business and production processes, as is the case in shipbuilding; -units, departments and divisions defined to be in charge of information systems development were, more often, organisationally located in accounting, financial or general administrative function, and couldn't have had (even if they wanted or knew) more significant influence upon computerised information systems developing of the technical functions; -we were developing the huge computer centres with the equipment, personnel and premises that even the similar companies in the developed countries were unable to withstand; -the universities in their programmes preserved the approach of teaching only fundamentals of the information systems science and only particularities of the information system function. The result was that our learned personnel did not develop the systematic approach to understanding of the entirety of an automated information system (AIS) which is indispensable for getting familiar with the relations existing among work processes; -the market-oriented defined standards on quality of programmes and the programme systems were missing so that each programme was commercially named managerial. This resulted in a great supply of programmes for processing of accounting data, which, with respect to its structure and quality, failed to provide linking with few existing programmes for support of the technological and production processes; -there were no interrelations among various professions regarding the development of programming systems. For example, the development of the maintenance programming systems requires various knowledge's and experience. Indeed, it is not very clear why in all other activities, except in the activity of development of information systems, we have defined a clear and final objective presented in the form of a project or a draft. The information systems development activities of this kind have been just started. A project can be accomplished according to the financial and personnel resources of the company, but each accomplished module represents one part of the entire AIS. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION IN SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY INTRODUCTION In order to appear and survive on the international market our shipbuilding must, through rationalisation of energy, materials, and information flows, increase productivity and quality of its product, reduce costs of production and production preparation cycles duration. Besides the organisational and technological restructuring, the conditions should be created within shipyards for communication of our professionals with the companies and institutions of the developed countries, in order to get acquainted with new methods, standard procedures (MRP, Japanese production philosophy, total maintenance, ISO 9000, computer integrated manufacture-CIM, etc.). One of the important assumption for the accomplishment of the above is the development of the information systems within the shipbuilding companies. If we assume that the term of computerised information development includes the entirety of technological changes based on computer applications, automated information systems, individual programmes and telematic networks, it will be necessary to assess the present level of computerisation of our companies and its impact upon the entire efficiency of our shipbuilding. The procedure of designing the computerised information systems in our shipbuilding companies must include the following tasks: -survey and analysis of the present information systems, information flows, material and energy flows, documents flows and their content, coding system, organisational structure and information links between departments; -proposal of organisational improvements and improvements regarding materials and energy flows, the form and possible reduction of the number of documents; -proposal for coding systems intended to better functioning of the information systems; -defining of data model, data base structure and subsystem links; -organisation of collecting, storing and protection of data; -descriptions and drawings of output reports; -plan elaboration for introduction of subsystems and modules. -proposal of computer equipment and layouts; -define the information systems implementation expected benefits; -defining the information system work organisation; -development of the information system; -elaboration of simulation models for vessels, shipyards and the entire shipbuilding industry of the Republic of Croatia. GLOBAL SURVEY ON INFORMATION FLOWS OF PRODUCTION AND OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE SHIPBUILDING PROCESS Based on knowledge acquired through the analysis of efficiency of the existing information flow system, and, by predicting the success of the future production preparation information flows, as well as, by an assessment that the value of the new production preparation organisation model will be increased, a global survey of the model of information flows of the production preparation subsystems in the shipbuilding company can be present (Figure 4th). The processes are connected with the organisation unit under study while the sectors of the company are connected with this unit by one or two-way information flows. The organisation unit is connected with the shipbuilding company environment through the computer. Each sector together with this unit present an unique information unit. Lines in Figure 4th denote the information flows directions. Lines with one arrow symbolise the one-way information flow, wile those with two arrows symbolise the feedback cycle of information flows. The schedule of issuing of the ship construction documentation is shown in Figure 4th. The computer, symbolically situated in the centre of the "circle" (Figure 4th), represent a communication link between all participants in the ship constructions process, which means that the production process uses the computer not only for data processing and storage but also for realisation of the quick, effective and rational communication links with all participants in the shipbuilding production process. Hence, the computer has a multiple role of: 1.data processing, 2.storage, i. e. creation of data banks, 3.communication among all participants in the shipbuilding process, and represents a simulator for gathering of all information. Production uses the computer in the process of monitoring the accomplishment of the production plan, also for simulation of various problems that are likely to arise in the process of ship constructions. The mentioned proposal, based on the global survey of information flows in shipbuilding production and the implementation of this proposal have been in progress in one of our shipyards. 3. ORGANIZATION MODEL OF AUTOMATED MANAGEMENT OF PRODUCTION IN THE SHIP CONSTRUCTION PROCESS There is a strong demand to propose and adopt the new "automated" management of production in the shipbuilding production process. The most important inputs into the "subsystem" of production are: -documentation on approval for signing of the ship construction contract -documentation on design and construction, -technical and operational-workshop documentation, -product construction documentation, -documentation on completion and take-over of product. The most significant outputs from the production subsystem are: -middle -term plans with check-points and terms, -operational plans, -processing of production results data which consist of: processing of job-order sheets, processing of production in progress, production cost accounting to the job-order sheets and reports. The computer purpose is: 1.data processing, 2.storing -data bank creation, 3.communication between the ship construction process participants. Figure 5th illustrates the conceptual model of development of automated production system in the shipbuilding organisation. The development of the contemporary management within the shipbuilding organisation tends to attain the following goals: 1.Modernization of production process technology through sequential implementation of numerical control technology (CAD/CAM technology and robots), 2.Introduction of highly-automated and flexible production in some segments the production process, 3.Design of the contemporary flexible "integrated information system for the shipbuilding production process", 4.Spreading and wide use of computer system in the field of production preparation (CAD/CAM, CAPP), 5.Elaboration of the entire product development in the ship construction process by its segments and phases together with defining of the common goal (CIM system which would encompass CAD, CAM, CAPP techniques as well as the production cells chain of the entire machining process and part of welding processes). The production process management is the most important and the most complex part of total or integration management process treating the management and production as a complex task. Modern automated and robotised production system in the shipbuilding company should be exploited at least 16 hours a day (two shifts) in order to keep up with growing and faster developments of technique and technology. Introduction of information systems, graphics, CAD/CAM and robots should be current task not only the plan for the future waiting for better days. This is specially emphasised because the path from the introduction of new technology to its effective application is not the easy one. Using the highly mechanised and highly automated procedures the production system of the shipbuilding company becomes the system in which the production workers increasingly process information rather than materials. A computer is linked to the automated machines and production segments which results in a production which is integrated by computer into a flexible production system. It would be desirable to create the flexible production system in the shipbuilding company in all its segments in the manner which would ensure optimum linking of products (technology in design) and processes to the continuous flow of production. The flexible system means a significant reduction of the preparation stage in the production process accomplishment in the shipbuilding company. Automated production management model within the process of production has been proposed as the ultimate objective of this paper, because the present situation in shipbuilding shows an indeed unenviable level of production process management quality. On the other hand, the proposed organisation model of production in the shipbuilding company in terms of information flows makes the sound basis for gradual introduction of automation of the entire production process management in the process of ship construction. In case that new model proposals were approved, the hardware/software equipment purchased, and the personnel engaged in production preparation trained for application of the latest scientific methods of decision making and management, we believe that, in the nearest future, we could start with the accomplishment of the "automated" organisation model of production preparation in shipbuilding. CONCLUSION Spreading of authorities and responsibilities of managers in the companies within the shipbuilding industry gave rise to the new interests of managers for the computerised information system development in these companies. The development concepts have been defined and the similarities of the subsystems from different companies stated. The necessary integration of the ready programme packages into the automated information system of the company, and one of the possible strategies for registration in CIM system have been presented. Through elaboration of simulation models of the main marine systems, a scientific qualitative and quantitative search for the most adequate scenarios for the shipbuilding industry will be enabled. Based on the above stated further development can be predicted. Concurrently with the computerised information systems development it will be necessary to resolve the organisational model of the preparation phase that can be reduced to the following: -information system equipment (hardware and software) should provide for all necessary information for the achievement of the efficient management of processes and costs, -adequate continuos training of the personnel engaged in production preparation, -application of the new scientific methods in the decision making process or management, based on the operation research, -implementation of continuous, discrete and hybrid computer simulation of the business and production process in shipbuilding, -application of scientific forecasting methods. In the opinion of the author, the given proposals, if approved and implemented into the shipbuilding practice of the Republic of Croatia, would surely lead us to the very efficient production management models, and would increase their competitiveness, profitability, that is, the shipbuilding companies, taken as a whole, are going to improve their overall efficiency in business operating in the Republic of Croatia. BIBLIOGRAPHY Belak,V., Prančić, M. (1989), "Scientific bases for a Long-term Development of Shipbuilding", Study, Brodosplit-Institute, Split Lazarević, B. (1985), "Designing Information Systems", parts I, II, Scientific book, Belgrade Munitić, A. (1989), "Computer Simulation with Help of Systems Dynamics", Parallels, Ljubljana Roberts, G. B. (1983), "Managerial applications of system dynamics", the MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., London, England Srića, N. (1988), "Information Technologies and Development", Economic journal, Zagreb Šimundić, S. 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